crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Goodyear Workers Rally In Akron After Trump Calls For Boycott

Donald Trump doesn ’ t have a good track record with making the right bets on companies in Ohio , a state he won by a solid eight points in 2016 .
In 2017 , Trump told a Youngstown crowd not to sell their homes because manufacturing was making a comeback .
Two years later , GM closed its nearby Lordstown Motors plant in the northeast corner of the state .
But now Trump has actively declared war on a Goodyear plant that employs more than 3,000 workers also in northeast Ohio , as state polls show a very competitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Trump , upset that the factory was reportedly prohibiting MAGA hats from being worn at work , tweeted Wednesday : “ Don ’ t buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS.
” Trump ’ s limousine uses Goodyear tires , but presumably that will change .
A Trump campaign event Thursday in support of “ Jobs !
Jobs !
Jobs !
” featured tires from Michelin ( French ) , Bridgestone ( Japanese ) , and Continental ( German ) , but not Goodyear ( American ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news lightly and neither are Democratic lawmakers , while most Republicans have adopted a low profile on the matter .
On Thursday , more than 100 workers , union members , and retirees turned out for a rally at the United Steelworkers Local 2 offices in Akron , where the Goodyear plant is based .
The speakers were lit , including an unidentified woman who rallied attendees at the outset of the event , noting that 60,000 workers across the globe are depending on Goodyear jobs .
“ Really , a boycott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Akron , not here in Summit County , not here northeast Ohio , ” she said .
“ Across the nation we have a clarion call to make a difference in this election.
” She added : “ Each one of us has to say , it 's enough .
Stop .
We 've had it .
… Each one of us has to fight now for the soul of America and it starts right here in Akron , Ohio.
” The latest jobs numbers from Akron put the unemployment rate at 11.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke .
“ You are going out of your way to use the greatest bully pulpit in the world to attack 3,300 families in this community , ” Ryan said , directing his comments at Trump .
“ We have enough challenges in our communities .
We have enough hurdles .
We are trying to figure out how to get our arms around a global pandemic , stabilize the economy , get our kids back to school , make sure people don ’ t file bankruptcy .
And now , in Ohio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk of eviction .
And this guy is using his bully pulpit to attack and try to kneecap Goodyear ?
It ain ’ t going to happen , Donald Trump.
” Earlier this month , Trump visited a Whirlpool Corp. plant in Clyde , Ohio , an effort to make an economic pitch to a crucial battleground state that has shed manufacturing jobs during his tenure .
But hey , what ’ s 3,300 jobs in Akron ?
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , a Republican , declined to make an official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he told a local radio host that he ’ s hoping Trump doesn ’ t send out any more tweets .
But U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio had something to say , calling it “ absolutely despicable ” that Trump would call for a boycott of an American-based company that employs thousands of U.S. workers .
“ Keep in mind , this is a President who spent years making his own Trump-branded products overseas , ” Brown tweeted .
“ He failed to stand up for workers in Lordstown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Akron .
”

Donald Trump doesn’t have a good track record with making the right bets on companies in Ohio, a state he won by a solid eight points in 2016. In 2017, Trump told a Youngstown crowd not to sell their homes because manufacturing was making a comeback. Two years later, GM closed its nearby Lordstown Motors plant in the northeast corner of the state.
But now Trump has actively declared war on a Goodyear plant that employs more than 3,000 workers also in northeast Ohio, as state polls show a very competitive race between Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Trump, upset that the factory was reportedly prohibiting MAGA hats from being worn at work, tweeted Wednesday: “Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS.” Trump’s limousine uses Goodyear tires, but presumably that will change. A Trump campaign event Thursday in support of “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!” featured tires from Michelin (French), Bridgestone (Japanese), and Continental (German), but not Goodyear (American).
Goodyear employees aren’t taking the news lightly and neither are Democratic lawmakers, while most Republicans have adopted a low profile on the matter. On Thursday, more than 100 workers, union members, and retirees turned out for a rally at the United Steelworkers Local 2 offices in Akron, where the Goodyear plant is based.
The speakers were lit, including an unidentified woman who rallied attendees at the outset of the event, noting that 60,000 workers across the globe are depending on Goodyear jobs. “Really, a boycott? No way. Not here in Akron, not here in Summit County, not here northeast Ohio,” she said. “Across the nation we have a clarion call to make a difference in this election.” She added: “Each one of us has to say, it's enough. Stop. We've had it. … Each one of us has to fight now for the soul of America and it starts right here in Akron, Ohio.”
The latest jobs numbers from Akron put the unemployment rate at 11.1%.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan also spoke. “You are going out of your way to use the greatest bully pulpit in the world to attack 3,300 families in this community,” Ryan said, directing his comments at Trump. “We have enough challenges in our communities. We have enough hurdles. We are trying to figure out how to get our arms around a global pandemic, stabilize the economy, get our kids back to school, make sure people don’t file bankruptcy. And now, in Ohio, almost 40% of our citizens are at risk of eviction. And this guy is using his bully pulpit to attack and try to kneecap Goodyear? It ain’t going to happen, Donald Trump.”
Earlier this month, Trump visited a Whirlpool Corp. plant in Clyde, Ohio, an effort to make an economic pitch to a crucial battleground state that has shed manufacturing jobs during his tenure. But hey, what’s 3,300 jobs in Akron?
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, declined to make an official comment on Trump’s latest kerfuffle, but he told a local radio host that he’s hoping Trump doesn’t send out any more tweets.
But U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio had something to say, calling it “absolutely despicable” that Trump would call for a boycott of an American-based company that employs thousands of U.S. workers.
“Keep in mind, this is a President who spent years making his own Trump-branded products overseas,” Brown tweeted. “He failed to stand up for workers in Lordstown, and now he betrays the workers in Akron.”
Republished with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Feds Seize Luxury Boat Bought With ‘We Build The Wall’ Funds

We 've posted about Kolfage before , how he bought his million dollar fishing boat soon after the GoFundMe for 'We Build the Wall ' took off , and raised over $ 25mil .
And we mentioned that 'Warfighter ' was seized when Kolfage , Steve Bannon , and others were arrested today .
But there 's just such delicious irony in the fact that Kolfage was literally parading his boat last month in a July 4th Trump Boat parade that it 's worth sharing that video as well .
You can see 'Warfighter ' at about the 19sec mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veteran indicted for fraud on Thursday , allegedly used fundraising efforts surrounding a privately-built wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to fund a `` lavish lifestyle '' which included the purchase of a boat he named 'Warfighter , ' according to prosecutors .
Kolfage , along with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon , was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud , according to the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Southern District of New York .
A former Air Force security forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right arm while serving in Iraq , Kolfage had raised more than $ 25 million through GoFundMe for a privately built wall along the southwestern border since December 2018 .
And what did they do with the money , one might ask ?
For now , we know that some luxury items were seized , including a Land Rover and a well-appointed 40-foot Jupiter Marine , probably worth around a milllion dollars .
As a result of the indictment , the U.S. government has seized millions of dollars in funds from multiple bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as any of Kolfage 's property that `` constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission '' of his alleged fraud .
That includes a 40-foot Jupiter Marine 41 SB fishing boat , according to the Jupiter Marine website , which features `` premium yacht amenities with dependable outboard propulsion without sacrificing thoughtful fishability . ''

We've posted about Kolfage before, how he bought his million dollar fishing boat soon after the GoFundMe for 'We Build the Wall' took off, and raised over $25mil. And we mentioned that 'Warfighter' was seized when Kolfage, Steve Bannon, and others were arrested today. But there's just such delicious irony in the fact that Kolfage was literally parading his boat last month in a July 4th Trump Boat parade that it's worth sharing that video as well. You can see 'Warfighter' at about the 19sec mark.
Source: Task and Purpose
Brian Kolfage, the wounded Iraq veteran indicted for fraud on Thursday, allegedly used fundraising efforts surrounding a privately-built wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to fund a "lavish lifestyle" which included the purchase of a boat he named 'Warfighter,' according to prosecutors. Kolfage, along with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, was arrested on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. A former Air Force security forces defender who lost both legs and his right arm while serving in Iraq, Kolfage had raised more than $25 million through GoFundMe for a privately built wall along the southwestern border since December 2018.
And what did they do with the money, one might ask? For now, we know that some luxury items were seized, including a Land Rover and a well-appointed 40-foot Jupiter Marine, probably worth around a milllion dollars.
As a result of the indictment, the U.S. government has seized millions of dollars in funds from multiple bank accounts belonging to the border wall effort, as well as any of Kolfage's property that "constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission" of his alleged fraud. That includes a 40-foot Jupiter Marine 41 SB fishing boat, according to the Jupiter Marine website, which features "premium yacht amenities with dependable outboard propulsion without sacrificing thoughtful fishability."
It gets better: Kolfage used boat he bought with illegally-siphoned "We Build the Wall" funds to sail in the July 4 Trump boat parade in Destin, Florida https://t.co/eyK1WOvWWf (spotted by @ZacAlf) pic.twitter.com/uEUuQx0Yle — Evan Hill (@evanchill) August 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Sen. Cassidy Positive For COVID – One Day After Demanding In-Person Voting

Yesterday , Cassidy likened voting in person to shopping at Walmart - and never mind about the health and safety @ @ @ @ @ tend to be older .
CASSIDY : I keep saying you can go to Walmart @ @ @ @ @ stand six feet behind the guy in front of you .
Um , and why @ @ @ @ @ that also at the voting booth ?
Of course we can .
According to his @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days , as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends , and @ @ @ @ @ whom he may have come into contact.
” His office did n't say whether the @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , and if so , their severity .

Yesterday, Cassidy likened voting in person to shopping at Walmart - and never mind about the health and safety of poll workers, who tend to be older.
CASSIDY: I keep saying you can go to Walmart and be safe, just stand six feet behind the guy in front of you. Um, and why can’t we do that also at the voting booth? Of course we can.
Today, Cassidy tested positive for coronavirus. From Politico:


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Joe Biden Delivers A Barnburner Of A Convention Speech

In 24 minutes , Joe Biden shattered all the `` Sleepy Joe '' memes and BS talking points about senility and brought his A-game to his nomination acceptance speech .
I 've seen a lot of speeches by Biden in my time , live and on TV .
This was not one of those .
Not at all .
Alternating fire and empathy , Biden laid out a vision for how he will govern and what his priorities will be .
The motifs of light and darkness , good and evil , and patriotism were laced all through his speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country together ; the worst pandemic in 100 years ; the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression ; the most compelling call for racial justice since the 60 ’ s ; and the undeniable reality of climate change .
Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery , but he riffed at some points without the script , so I recommend watching .
Ella Baker , a giant of the civil rights movement , left us with this wisdom : Give people light and they will find a way .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long .
Too much anger .
Too much fear .
Too much division .
Here and now , I give you my word : If you entrust me with the presidency , I will draw on the best of us not the worst .
I will be an ally of the light not of the darkness .
It 's time for us , for We the People , to come together .
For make no mistake .
United we can , and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
We will choose hope over fear , facts over fiction , fairness over privilege .
I am a proud Democrat and I will be proud to carry the banner of our party into the general election .
So , it is with great honor and humility that I accept this nomination for President of the United States of America .
But while I will be a Democratic candidate , I will be an American president .
I will work as hard for those who did n't support me as I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job of a president .
To represent all of us , not just our base or our party .
This is not a partisan moment .
This must be an American moment .
It 's a moment that calls for hope and light and love .
Hope for our futures , light to see our way forward , and love for one another .
America is n't just a collection of clashing interests of Red States or Blue States .
We 're so much bigger than that .
We 're so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , Franklin Roosevelt pledged a New Deal in a time of massive unemployment , uncertainty , and fear .
Stricken by disease , stricken by a virus , FDR insisted that he would recover and prevail and he believed America could as well .
And he did .
And so can we .
This campaign is n't just about winning votes .
It 's about winning the heart , and yes , the soul of America .
Winning it for the generous among us , not the selfish .
Winning it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not just the privileged few at the top .
Winning it for those communities who have known the injustice of the `` knee on the neck '' .
For all the young people who have known only an America of rising inequity and shrinking opportunity .
They deserve to experience America 's promise in full .
No generation ever knows what history will ask of it .
All we can ever know is whether we 'll be ready when that moment arrives .
And now history has delivered us to one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced .
Four historic crises .
All at the same time .
A perfect storm .
The worst pandemic in over 100 years .
The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression .
The most compelling call for racial justice since the 60 's .
And the undeniable realities and accelerating threats of climate change .
So , the question for us is simple : Are we ready ?
I believe we are .
We must be .
All elections are important .
But we know in our bones this one is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
A time of real peril , but of extraordinary possibilities .
We can choose the path of becoming angrier , less hopeful , and more divided .
Or we can choose a different path , and together , take this chance to heal , to be reborn , to unite .
A path of hope and light .
This is a life-changing election that will determine America 's future for a very long time .
Character is on the ballot .
Compassion is on the ballot .
Decency , science , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot .
Who we are as a nation .
What we stand for .
And , most importantly , who we want to be .
That ’ s all on the ballot .
And the choice could not be clearer .
Just judge this president on the facts .
More than 170,000 Americans have died .
By far the worst performance of any nation on Earth .
More than 50 million people have filed for unemployment this year .
More than 10 million people are going to lose their health insurance this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have closed this year .
If this president is re-elected we know what will happen .
Cases and deaths will remain far too high .
More mom and pop businesses will close their doors for good .
Working families will struggle to get by , and yet , the wealthiest one percent will get tens of billions of dollars in new tax breaks .
And the assault on the Affordable Care Act will continue until its destroyed , taking insurance away from more than 20 million people – including more than 15 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the protections that President Obama and I passed for people who suffer from a pre-existing condition .
And speaking of President Obama , a man I was honored to serve alongside for 8 years as Vice President .
Let me take this moment to say something we do n't say nearly enough .
Thank you , Mr. President .
You were a great president .
A president our children could – and did – look up to .
No one will say that about the current occupant of the office .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's given four more years he will be what he 's been the last four years .
A president who takes no responsibility , refuses to lead , blames others , cozies up to dictators , and fans the flames of hate and division .
He will wake up every day believing the job is all about him .
Never about you .
Is that the America you want for you , your family , your children ?
One that is generous and strong .
It ’ s an America we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first step I will take will be to get control of the virus that 's ruined so many lives .
Because I understand something this president does n't .
We will never get our economy back on track , we will never get our kids safely back to school , we will never have our lives back , until we deal with this virus .
The tragedy of where we are today is it did n't have to be this bad .
Just look around .
It 's not this bad in Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or almost anywhere else in the world .
The President keeps telling us the virus is going to disappear .
He keeps waiting for a miracle .
Well , I have news for him , no miracle is coming .
We lead the world in confirmed cases .
We lead the world in deaths .
Our economy is in tatters , with Black , Latino , Asian American , and Native American communities bearing the brunt of it .
And after all this time , the president still does not have a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one we 'll implement the national strategy I 've been laying out since March .
We 'll develop and deploy rapid tests with results available immediately .
We 'll make the medical supplies and protective equipment our country needs .
And we 'll make them here in America .
So we will never again be at the mercy of China and other foreign countries in order to protect our own people .
We 'll make sure our schools have the resources they need to be open , safe , and effective .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the muzzle off our experts so the public gets the information they need and deserve .
The honest , unvarnished truth .
They can deal with that .
We 'll have a national mandate to wear a mask-not as a burden , but to protect each other .
In short , I will do what we should have done from the very beginning .
Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to this nation .
He failed to protect us .
And , my fellow Americans , that is unforgivable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you this promise : I will protect America .
I will defend us from every attack .
Seen .
And unseen .
Always .
Without exception .
Every time .
Look , I understand it 's hard to have hope right now .
On this summer night , let me take a moment to speak to those of you who have lost the most .
I know how it feels to lose someone you love .
I know that deep black hole that opens up in your chest .
That you feel your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know how mean and cruel and unfair life can be sometimes .
First , your loved ones may have left this Earth but they never leave your heart .
They will always be with you .
And second , I found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose .
As God 's children each of us have a purpose in our lives .
And we have a great purpose as a nation : To open the doors of opportunity to all Americans .
To save our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world once again .
To finally live up to and make real the words written in the sacred documents that founded this nation that all men and women are created equal .
Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights .
Among them life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness .
You know , my Dad was an honorable , decent man .
He got knocked down a few times pretty hard , but always got up .
He worked hard and built a great middle-class life for our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joey , I do n't expect the government to solve my problems , but I expect it to understand them . ''
And then he would say : `` Joey , a job is about a lot more than a paycheck .
It 's about your dignity .
It 's about respect .
It 's about your place in your community .
It ’ s about looking your kids in the eye and say , honey , it ’ s going to be okay . ''
That 's why my economic plan is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and community .
Together , we can , and we will , rebuild our economy .
And when we do , we 'll not only build it back , we 'll build it back better .
With modern roads , bridges , highways , broadband , ports and airports as a new foundation for economic growth .
With pipes that transport clean water to every community .
With 5 million new manufacturing and technology jobs so the future is made in America .
With a health care system that lowers premiums , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Affordable Care Act he ’ s trying to rip away .
With an education system that trains our people for the best jobs of the 21st century , where cost does n't prevent young people from going to college , and student debt does n't crush them when they get out .
With child care and elder care that make it possible for parents to go to work and for the elderly to stay in their homes with dignity .
With an immigration system that powers our economy and reflects our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With equal pay for women .
With rising wages you can raise a family on .
Yes , we 're going to do more than praise our essential workers .
We 're finally going to pay them .
We can , and we will , deal with climate change .
It 's not only a crisis , it 's an enormous opportunity .
An opportunity for America to lead the world in clean energy and create millions of new good-paying jobs in the process .
And we can pay for these investments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.3 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest 1 percent and the biggest , most profitable corporations , some of which pay no tax at all .
Because we do n't need a tax code that rewards wealth more than it rewards work .
I 'm not looking to punish anyone .
Far from it .
But it 's long past time the wealthiest people and the biggest corporations in this country paid their fair share .
For our seniors , Social Security is a sacred obligation , a sacred promise made .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that promise .
He 's proposing to eliminate the tax that pays for almost half of Social Security without any way of making up for that lost revenue .
I will not let it happen .
If I 'm your president , we 're going to protect Social Security and Medicare .
You have my word .
One of the most powerful voices we hear in the country today is from our young people .
They 're speaking to the inequity and injustice that has grown up in America .
Economic injustice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear their voices and if you listen , you can hear them too .
And whether it 's the existential threat posed by climate change , the daily fear of being gunned down in school , or the inability to get started in their first job — it will be the work of the next president to restore the promise of America to everyone .
I wo n't have to do it alone .
Because I will have a great Vice President at my side .
Senator Kamala Harris .
She is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story is the American story .
She knows about all the obstacles thrown in the way of so many in our country .
Women , Black women , Black Americans , South Asian Americans , immigrants , the left-out and left-behind .
But she 's overcome every obstacle she 's ever faced .
No one 's been tougher on the big banks or the gun lobby .
No one 's been tougher in calling out this current administration for its extremism , its failure to follow the law , and its failure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I both draw strength from our families .
For Kamala , it ’ s Doug and their families .
For me , it ’ s Jill and ours .
No man deserves one great love in his life .
But I 've known two .
After losing my first wife in a car accident , Jill came into my life and put our family back together .
She 's an educator .
A mom .
A military Mom .
And an unstoppable force .
If she puts her mind to it , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she 's going to get it done .
She was a great Second Lady and she will make a great First Lady for this nation , she loves this country so much .
And I will have the strength that can only come from family .
Hunter , Ashley and all our grandchildren , my brothers , my sister .
They give me courage and lift me up .
And while he is no longer with us , Beau inspires me every day .
So I take very personally the profound responsibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a president who will stand with our allies and friends .
I will make it clear to our adversaries the days of cozying up to dictators are over .
Under President Biden , America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers .
Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting .
I will stand always for our values of human rights and dignity .
And I will work in common purpose for a more secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ History has thrust one more urgent task on us .
Will we be the generation that finally wipes the stain of racism from our national character ?
I believe we 're up to it .
Just a week ago yesterday was the third anniversary of the events in Charlottesville .
Remember seeing those neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists coming out of the fields with lighted torches ?
Veins bulging ?
Spewing the same anti-Semitic bile heard across Europe in the '30s ?
Remember the violent clash that ensued between those spreading hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against it ?
Remember what the president said ?
There were quote , `` very fine people on both sides . ''
It was a wake-up call for us as a country .
And for me , a call to action .
At that moment , I knew I ’ d have to run .
My father taught us that silence was complicity .
And I could not remain silent or complicit .
At the time , I said we were in a battle for the soul of this nation .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations I 've had this entire campaign is with someone who is too young to vote .
I met with six-year old Gianna Floyd , a day before her Daddy George Floyd was laid to rest .
When I leaned down to speak with her , she looked into my eyes and said `` Daddy , changed the world . ''
Her words burrowed deep into my heart .
Maybe George Floyd 's murder was the breaking point .
However it has come to be , America is ready to in John 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy burdens of hate at last '' and to do the hard work of rooting out our systemic racism .
America 's history tells us that it has been in our darkest moments that we 've made our greatest progress .
That we 've found the light .
And in this dark moment , I believe we are poised to make great progress again .
That we can find the light once more .
I have always believed you can define America in one word : Possibilities .
That in America , everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given ability will take them .
We can never lose that .
In times as challenging as these , I believe there is only one way forward .
As a united America .
United in our pursuit of a more perfect Union .
United in our dreams of a better future for us and for our children .
United in our determination to make the coming years bright .
I believe we are .
And we are a good and decent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America .
And there has never been anything we ’ ve been unable to accomplish when we 've done it together .
Do n't hope on this side of the grave , But then , once in a lifetime Of justice can rise up , This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme .
With passion and purpose , let us begin – you and I together , one nation , under God – united in our love for America and united in our love for each other .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hope is more powerful than fear .
Light is more powerful than dark .
This is our moment .
This is our mission .
May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation .
And this is a battle that we , together , will win .
And may God bless you .
And may God protect our troops .

In 24 minutes, Joe Biden shattered all the "Sleepy Joe" memes and BS talking points about senility and brought his A-game to his nomination acceptance speech.
I've seen a lot of speeches by Biden in my time , live and on TV. This was not one of those. Not at all. Alternating fire and empathy, Biden laid out a vision for how he will govern and what his priorities will be.
The motifs of light and darkness, good and evil, and patriotism were laced all through his speech. He wove the four crises facing the country together; the worst pandemic in 100 years; the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression; the most compelling call for racial justice since the 60’s; and the undeniable reality of climate change.
Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery, but he riffed at some points without the script, so I recommend watching.
Good evening.
Ella Baker, a giant of the civil rights movement, left us with this wisdom: Give people light and they will find a way.
Give people light.
Those are words for our time.
The current president has cloaked America in darkness for much too long. Too much anger. Too much fear. Too much division.
Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst. I will be an ally of the light not of the darkness.
It's time for us, for We the People, to come together.
For make no mistake. United we can, and will, overcome this season of darkness in America. We will choose hope over fear, facts over fiction, fairness over privilege.
I am a proud Democrat and I will be proud to carry the banner of our party into the general election. So, it is with great honor and humility that I accept this nomination for President of the United States of America.
But while I will be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president. I will work as hard for those who didn't support me as I will for those who did.
That's the job of a president. To represent all of us, not just our base or our party. This is not a partisan moment. This must be an American moment.
It's a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another.
America isn't just a collection of clashing interests of Red States or Blue States.
We're so much bigger than that.
We're so much better than that.
Nearly a century ago, Franklin Roosevelt pledged a New Deal in a time of massive unemployment, uncertainty, and fear.
Stricken by disease, stricken by a virus, FDR insisted that he would recover and prevail and he believed America could as well.
And he did.
And so can we.
This campaign isn't just about winning votes.
It's about winning the heart, and yes, the soul of America.
Winning it for the generous among us, not the selfish. Winning it for the workers who keep this country going, not just the privileged few at the top. Winning it for those communities who have known the injustice of the "knee on the neck". For all the young people who have known only an America of rising inequity and shrinking opportunity.
They deserve to experience America's promise in full.
No generation ever knows what history will ask of it. All we can ever know is whether we'll be ready when that moment arrives.
And now history has delivered us to one of the most difficult moments America has ever faced.
Four historic crises. All at the same time. A perfect storm.
The worst pandemic in over 100 years. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
The most compelling call for racial justice since the 60's. And the undeniable realities and accelerating threats of climate change.
So, the question for us is simple: Are we ready?
I believe we are.
We must be.
All elections are important. But we know in our bones this one is more consequential.
America is at an inflection point. A time of real peril, but of extraordinary possibilities.
We can choose the path of becoming angrier, less hopeful, and more divided.
A path of shadow and suspicion.
Or we can choose a different path, and together, take this chance to heal, to be reborn, to unite. A path of hope and light.
This is a life-changing election that will determine America's future for a very long time.
Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy.
They are all on the ballot.
Who we are as a nation. What we stand for. And, most importantly, who we want to be.
That’s all on the ballot.
And the choice could not be clearer.
No rhetoric is needed.
Just judge this president on the facts.
5 million Americans infected with COVID-19.
More than 170,000 Americans have died.
By far the worst performance of any nation on Earth.
More than 50 million people have filed for unemployment this year.
More than 10 million people are going to lose their health insurance this year.
Nearly one in 6 small businesses have closed this year.
If this president is re-elected we know what will happen.
Cases and deaths will remain far too high.
More mom and pop businesses will close their doors for good.
Working families will struggle to get by, and yet, the wealthiest one percent will get tens of billions of dollars in new tax breaks.
And the assault on the Affordable Care Act will continue until its destroyed, taking insurance away from more than 20 million people – including more than 15 million people on Medicaid – and getting rid of the protections that President Obama and I passed for people who suffer from a pre-existing condition.
And speaking of President Obama, a man I was honored to serve alongside for 8 years as Vice President. Let me take this moment to say something we don't say nearly enough.
Thank you, Mr. President. You were a great president. A president our children could – and did – look up to.
No one will say that about the current occupant of the office.
What we know about this president is if he's given four more years he will be what he's been the last four years.
A president who takes no responsibility, refuses to lead, blames others, cozies up to dictators, and fans the flames of hate and division.
He will wake up every day believing the job is all about him. Never about you.
Is that the America you want for you, your family, your children?
I see a different America.
One that is generous and strong.
Selfless and humble.
It’s an America we can rebuild together.
As president, the first step I will take will be to get control of the virus that's ruined so many lives.
Because I understand something this president doesn't.
We will never get our economy back on track, we will never get our kids safely back to school, we will never have our lives back, until we deal with this virus.
The tragedy of where we are today is it didn't have to be this bad.
Just look around.
It's not this bad in Canada. Or Europe. Or Japan. Or almost anywhere else in the world.
The President keeps telling us the virus is going to disappear. He keeps waiting for a miracle. Well, I have news for him, no miracle is coming.
We lead the world in confirmed cases. We lead the world in deaths.
Our economy is in tatters, with Black, Latino, Asian American, and Native American communities bearing the brunt of it.
And after all this time, the president still does not have a plan.
Well, I do.
If I'm president on day one we'll implement the national strategy I've been laying out since March.
We'll develop and deploy rapid tests with results available immediately.
We'll make the medical supplies and protective equipment our country needs. And we'll make them here in America. So we will never again be at the mercy of China and other foreign countries in order to protect our own people.
We'll make sure our schools have the resources they need to be open, safe, and effective.
We'll put the politics aside and take the muzzle off our experts so the public gets the information they need and deserve. The honest, unvarnished truth. They can deal with that.
We'll have a national mandate to wear a mask-not as a burden, but to protect each other.
It's a patriotic duty.
In short, I will do what we should have done from the very beginning.
Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to this nation.
He failed to protect us.
He failed to protect America.
And, my fellow Americans, that is unforgivable.
As president, I will make you this promise: I will protect America. I will defend us from every attack. Seen. And unseen. Always. Without exception. Every time.
Look, I understand it's hard to have hope right now.
On this summer night, let me take a moment to speak to those of you who have lost the most.
I know how it feels to lose someone you love. I know that deep black hole that opens up in your chest. That you feel your whole being is sucked into it. I know how mean and cruel and unfair life can be sometimes.
But I've learned two things.
First, your loved ones may have left this Earth but they never leave your heart. They will always be with you.
And second, I found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose.
As God's children each of us have a purpose in our lives.
And we have a great purpose as a nation: To open the doors of opportunity to all Americans. To save our democracy. To be a light to the world once again.
To finally live up to and make real the words written in the sacred documents that founded this nation that all men and women are created equal. Endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You know, my Dad was an honorable, decent man.
He got knocked down a few times pretty hard, but always got up.
He worked hard and built a great middle-class life for our family.
He used to say, "Joey, I don't expect the government to solve my problems, but I expect it to understand them."
And then he would say: "Joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about your place in your community. It’s about looking your kids in the eye and say, honey, it’s going to be okay."
I've never forgotten those lessons.
That's why my economic plan is all about jobs, dignity, respect, and community. Together, we can, and we will, rebuild our economy. And when we do, we'll not only build it back, we'll build it back better.
With modern roads, bridges, highways, broadband, ports and airports as a new foundation for economic growth. With pipes that transport clean water to every community. With 5 million new manufacturing and technology jobs so the future is made in America.
With a health care system that lowers premiums, deductibles, and drug prices by building on the Affordable Care Act he’s trying to rip away.
With an education system that trains our people for the best jobs of the 21st century, where cost doesn't prevent young people from going to college, and student debt doesn't crush them when they get out.
With child care and elder care that make it possible for parents to go to work and for the elderly to stay in their homes with dignity. With an immigration system that powers our economy and reflects our values. With newly empowered labor unions. With equal pay for women. With rising wages you can raise a family on. Yes, we're going to do more than praise our essential workers. We're finally going to pay them.
We can, and we will, deal with climate change. It's not only a crisis, it's an enormous opportunity. An opportunity for America to lead the world in clean energy and create millions of new good-paying jobs in the process.
And we can pay for these investments by ending loopholes and the president's $1.3 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest 1 percent and the biggest, most profitable corporations, some of which pay no tax at all.
Because we don't need a tax code that rewards wealth more than it rewards work. I'm not looking to punish anyone. Far from it. But it's long past time the wealthiest people and the biggest corporations in this country paid their fair share.
For our seniors, Social Security is a sacred obligation, a sacred promise made. The current president is threatening to break that promise. He's proposing to eliminate the tax that pays for almost half of Social Security without any way of making up for that lost revenue.
I will not let it happen. If I'm your president, we're going to protect Social Security and Medicare. You have my word.
One of the most powerful voices we hear in the country today is from our young people. They're speaking to the inequity and injustice that has grown up in America. Economic injustice. Racial injustice. Environmental injustice.
I hear their voices and if you listen, you can hear them too. And whether it's the existential threat posed by climate change, the daily fear of being gunned down in school, or the inability to get started in their first job — it will be the work of the next president to restore the promise of America to everyone.
I won't have to do it alone. Because I will have a great Vice President at my side. Senator Kamala Harris. She is a powerful voice for this nation. Her story is the American story. She knows about all the obstacles thrown in the way of so many in our country. Women, Black women, Black Americans, South Asian Americans, immigrants, the left-out and left-behind.
But she's overcome every obstacle she's ever faced. No one's been tougher on the big banks or the gun lobby. No one's been tougher in calling out this current administration for its extremism, its failure to follow the law, and its failure to simply tell the truth.
Kamala and I both draw strength from our families. For Kamala, it’s Doug and their families.
For me, it’s Jill and ours.
No man deserves one great love in his life. But I've known two. After losing my first wife in a car accident, Jill came into my life and put our family back together.
She's an educator. A mom. A military Mom. And an unstoppable force. If she puts her mind to it, just get out of the way. Because she's going to get it done. She was a great Second Lady and she will make a great First Lady for this nation, she loves this country so much.
And I will have the strength that can only come from family. Hunter, Ashley and all our grandchildren, my brothers, my sister. They give me courage and lift me up.
And while he is no longer with us, Beau inspires me every day.
Beau served our nation in uniform. A decorated Iraq war veteran.
So I take very personally the profound responsibility of serving as Commander in Chief.
I will be a president who will stand with our allies and friends. I will make it clear to our adversaries the days of cozying up to dictators are over.
Under President Biden, America will not turn a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers. Nor will I put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting.
I will stand always for our values of human rights and dignity. And I will work in common purpose for a more secure, peaceful, and prosperous world.
History has thrust one more urgent task on us. Will we be the generation that finally wipes the stain of racism from our national character?
I believe we're up to it.
I believe we're ready.
Just a week ago yesterday was the third anniversary of the events in Charlottesville.
Remember seeing those neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists coming out of the fields with lighted torches? Veins bulging? Spewing the same anti-Semitic bile heard across Europe in the '30s?
Remember the violent clash that ensued between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it?
Remember what the president said?
There were quote, "very fine people on both sides."
It was a wake-up call for us as a country.
And for me, a call to action. At that moment, I knew I’d have to run. My father taught us that silence was complicity. And I could not remain silent or complicit.
At the time, I said we were in a battle for the soul of this nation.
And we are.
One of the most important conversations I've had this entire campaign is with someone who is too young to vote.
I met with six-year old Gianna Floyd, a day before her Daddy George Floyd was laid to rest.
She is incredibly brave.
I’ll never forget.
When I leaned down to speak with her, she looked into my eyes and said "Daddy, changed the world."
Her words burrowed deep into my heart.
Maybe George Floyd's murder was the breaking point.
Maybe John Lewis' passing the inspiration.
However it has come to be, America is ready to in John's words, to lay down "the heavy burdens of hate at last" and to do the hard work of rooting out our systemic racism.
America's history tells us that it has been in our darkest moments that we've made our greatest progress. That we've found the light. And in this dark moment, I believe we are poised to make great progress again. That we can find the light once more.
I have always believed you can define America in one word: Possibilities.
That in America, everyone, and I mean everyone, should be given the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given ability will take them.
We can never lose that. In times as challenging as these, I believe there is only one way forward. As a united America. United in our pursuit of a more perfect Union. United in our dreams of a better future for us and for our children. United in our determination to make the coming years bright.
Are we ready?
I believe we are.
This is a great nation.
And we are a good and decent people.
This is the United States of America.
And there has never been anything we’ve been unable to accomplish when we've done it together.
The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote:
"History says,
Don't hope on this side of the grave,
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up,
And hope and history rhyme"
This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme.
With passion and purpose, let us begin – you and I together, one nation, under God – united in our love for America and united in our love for each other.
For love is more powerful than hate.
Hope is more powerful than fear.
Light is more powerful than dark.
This is our moment.
This is our mission.
May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here tonight as love and hope and light joined in the battle for the soul of the nation.
And this is a battle that we, together, will win.
I promise you.
Thank you.
And may God bless you.
And may God protect our troops.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--WATCH LIVE:  Democratic National Convention For Thursday

Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination and speaks about his vision for uniting America to move us forward @ @ @ @ @ crisis , and for delivering on that promise for all .
And you really got @ @ @ @ @ faceless tech wizards who put this thing together .
It 's MUCH better than anyone @ @ @ @ @ we at C & L are bracing ourselves for the Scott Baio speech at the @ @ @ @ @ nevermind about that .
Tonight is a happy occasion .

Via DemConvention.com:
Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination and speaks about his vision for uniting America to move us forward out of constant chaos and crisis, and for delivering on that promise for all. Featuring: Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Cory Booker, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Chris Coons, and the Biden Family.
And you really gotta hand it to the faceless tech wizards who put this thing together. It's MUCH better than anyone could have predicted, and we at C&L are bracing ourselves for the Scott Baio speech at the RNC next week.
But nevermind about that. Tonight is a happy occasion.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--COVER UP:  White House Accused Of Hiding Mnuchin's Role Recruiting Postmaster General

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday accused the Trump White House of covering up the role Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin played in recruiting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a major Republican donor with no prior experience working for the U.S .
Postal Service .
In a letter to Robert Duncan , chairman of the USPS Board of Governors , Schumer wrote that as part of his investigation into DeJoy 's selection and unanimous appointment in May , his office `` learned of the role Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had with the Postal Board of Governors , including through meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls with groups of governors , which has not been previously disclosed by the board . ''
`` This administration has repeatedly pointed to the role of [ executive search firm ] Russell Reynolds to defend the selection of a Republican mega-donor with no prior postal experience as postmaster general while at the same time blocking the ability of Congress to obtain briefings from the firm and concealing the role of Secretary Mnuchin and the White House in its search process , '' the New York Democrat wrote .
Schumer demanded that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump appointees—immediately release Russell Reynolds from any nondisclosure agreement barring the firm from providing details about its postmaster general search and provide a full `` explanation of the role of President Trump and Secretary Mnuchin in the search process for a new postmaster and the selection of Mr .
DeJoy . ''
Schumer 's investigation into the process that resulted in DeJoy 's appointment began in June , when he demanded that the Board of Governors turn over any communications with the White House related to the postmaster general 's selection .
Shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 , DeJoy moved to impose operational changes that caused severe mail backlogs across the nation .
DeJoy this week vowed to suspend , but not reverse , the changes .
`` In your July 2 response to me , the board asserted that much of the information I requested was confidential and declined to provide it , '' Schumer wrote Wednesday .
`` As a result , my staff sought the cooperation of Russell Reynolds with Congress ... My office was informed by counsel for Russell Reynolds that the board was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Congress could satisfy its oversight obligations . ''
In response to stonewalling by the Board of Governors and the Trump White House , Rep. Jackie Speier ( D-Calif. ) tweeted , `` If it looks like a cover-up , sounds like a cover-up , and smells like a cover-up , it 's a cover-up . ''
On Wednesday , watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW ) obtained documents confirming that Mnuchin was involved in the Board of Governors ' effort to find a replacement for former Postmaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service veteran who retired in June .
As CREW 's Donald Sherman and Linnaea Honl-Stuenkel wrote Wednesday , the documents reveal that `` Mnuchin met with the United States Postal Service Board of Governors in February to discuss the search for a new postmaster general as part of his larger campaign to exert influence over the USPS . ''
`` It 's clear that Mnuchin had a candidate for postmaster general in mind , who was personally invested in USPS competitors , '' Sherman and Honl-Stuenkel continued .
`` The Washington Post reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was recruited by Mnuchin . ''

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday accused the Trump White House of covering up the role Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin played in recruiting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor with no prior experience working for the U.S. Postal Service.
In a letter to Robert Duncan, chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, Schumer wrote that as part of his investigation into DeJoy's selection and unanimous appointment in May, his office "learned of the role Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had with the Postal Board of Governors, including through meetings with individual governors as well as phone calls with groups of governors, which has not been previously disclosed by the board."
"This administration has repeatedly pointed to the role of [executive search firm] Russell Reynolds to defend the selection of a Republican mega-donor with no prior postal experience as postmaster general while at the same time blocking the ability of Congress to obtain briefings from the firm and concealing the role of Secretary Mnuchin and the White House in its search process," the New York Democrat wrote.
Schumer demanded that the Board of Governors—which is completely controlled by Trump appointees—immediately release Russell Reynolds from any nondisclosure agreement barring the firm from providing details about its postmaster general search and provide a full "explanation of the role of President Trump and Secretary Mnuchin in the search process for a new postmaster and the selection of Mr. DeJoy."
I’m demanding the USPS Board of Governors immediately disclose all materials on the selection of Trump megadonor Louis DeJoy to be Postmaster General
The role President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, and the search firm played in his selection must be exposedhttps://t.co/58UGatCRL6 — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 19, 2020
Schumer's investigation into the process that resulted in DeJoy's appointment began in June, when he demanded that the Board of Governors turn over any communications with the White House related to the postmaster general's selection. Shortly after taking charge of USPS on June 15, DeJoy moved to impose operational changes that caused severe mail backlogs across the nation. DeJoy this week vowed to suspend, but not reverse, the changes.
"In your July 2 response to me, the board asserted that much of the information I requested was confidential and declined to provide it," Schumer wrote Wednesday. "As a result, my staff sought the cooperation of Russell Reynolds with Congress... My office was informed by counsel for Russell Reynolds that the board was not willing to waive its nondisclosure agreement so that Congress could satisfy its oversight obligations."
In response to stonewalling by the Board of Governors and the Trump White House, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) tweeted, "If it looks like a cover-up, sounds like a cover-up, and smells like a cover-up, it's a cover-up."
On Wednesday, watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) obtained documents confirming that Mnuchin was involved in the Board of Governors' effort to find a replacement for former Postmaster General Megan Brennan, a 34-year Postal Service veteran who retired in June.
NEW: Documents obtained by @CREWcrew show that Treasury Sec. Steven Mnuchin involved himself directly in the selection of the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, who then took steps that could undercut voting by mail, apparently to help the President.https://t.co/dIHoGbKy3z — Noah Bookbinder (@NoahBookbinder) August 20, 2020
As CREW's Donald Sherman and Linnaea Honl-Stuenkel wrote Wednesday, the documents reveal that "Mnuchin met with the United States Postal Service Board of Governors in February to discuss the search for a new postmaster general as part of his larger campaign to exert influence over the USPS."
"It's clear that Mnuchin had a candidate for postmaster general in mind, who was personally invested in USPS competitors," Sherman and Honl-Stuenkel continued. "The Washington Post reports that Louis DeJoy, the eventual pick, was recruited by Mnuchin."
Republished with permission from Common Dreams.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Trump: 'Bannon? Haven't Seen Him.' Bannon: 'LOL Saw Him A Few Weeks Ago'

Steve Bannon is already out of jail and framing his arrest by SDNY as a `` political hit job , '' which is hilarious coming from an actual white nationalist criminal .
Anderson Cooper spoke with Jim Acosta about Bannon 's whining , playing a clip of him b*tching about people who `` do n't have president Trump 's back on building the wall . ''
But then Acosta had some news about Trump 's assertion that he has n't been in touch with Bannon for `` long periods of time . ''
Or maybe it 's not news .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is that even news anymore ?
ACOSTA : Yeah , that 's not quite the case , Anderson .
I talked to a source close to the campaign earlier today who said Bannon has been going around telling friends that he and the president have been speaking time to time , and that these conversations have been happening as recently as in the last few months .
I talked to a second campaign source in the last hour or so who confirmed the president and Bannon did speak , this source described , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only lasted a few minutes .
So , the president and his former chief strategist have been in contact with one another , Anderson .
And , so I do think that contradicts what the president said yesterday , when he said , `` I have n't been dealing with Steve Bannon for a long time . ''
Now , the two men did have a falling out , you 'll recall , in August 2017 after Charlottesville , Bannon was shown the door at the White House , he was seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they 've been able to repair that relationship , it appears , over the last couple of years .
And just recently , as you know , the president was telling Fox News in July , he appreciated some of the supportive words he 's been hearing from Steve Bannon .
Steve Bannon 's been hosting a pro-Trump podcast for several months now .
It does appear to be the case these two men have been talking to one another .
The source who confirmed this to me earlier , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a kinship , was the word that was used to describe their relationship , a kinship because of a shared ideology of nationalist populism .
In the words of this source , Bannon has the ideology and Trump is the vessel .
Allow me to go throw up now .

Steve Bannon is already out of jail and framing his arrest by SDNY as a "political hit job," which is hilarious coming from an actual white nationalist criminal. Anderson Cooper spoke with Jim Acosta about Bannon's whining, playing a clip of him b*tching about people who "don't have president Trump's back on building the wall." But then Acosta had some news about Trump's assertion that he hasn't been in touch with Bannon for "long periods of time."
Or maybe it's not news. Basically, it's not true. Is that even news anymore?
ACOSTA: Yeah, that's not quite the case, Anderson. I talked to a source close to the campaign earlier today who said Bannon has been going around telling friends that he and the president have been speaking time to time, and that these conversations have been happening as recently as in the last few months. I talked to a second campaign source in the last hour or so who confirmed the president and Bannon did speak, this source described, as weeks ago. But the conversation only lasted a few minutes. So, the president and his former chief strategist have been in contact with one another, Anderson. And, so I do think that contradicts what the president said yesterday, when he said, "I haven't been dealing with Steve Bannon for a long time." Now, the two men did have a falling out, you'll recall, in August 2017 after Charlottesville, Bannon was shown the door at the White House, he was seen as too close to the white nationalist movement. But they've been able to repair that relationship, it appears, over the last couple of years. And just recently, as you know, the president was telling Fox News in July, he appreciated some of the supportive words he's been hearing from Steve Bannon. Steve Bannon's been hosting a pro-Trump podcast for several months now. It does appear to be the case these two men have been talking to one another. The source who confirmed this to me earlier, they said that the two men have sort of a kinship, was the word that was used to describe their relationship, a kinship because of a shared ideology of nationalist populism. In the words of this source, Bannon has the ideology and Trump is the vessel.
What a sweet symbiosis. Bannon's brain and Trump's vessel.
Allow me to go throw up now.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Sen. Tammy Duckworth Nailed Her Target, Labeling Trump 'Coward In Chief'

On the closing night of the Democratic National Convention , Illinois ' Senator Tammy Duckworth sliced and diced Donald Trump right it would hurt a typical grade-school bully .
His ego and his strength .
She called him a coward .
She called him a puppet , in a subtle shout-out to the woman who should rightfully be sitting in the Oval right now .
And she called him weak .
After telling her story — an inspirational one of her rise in the military ranks , her bravery , her strength and resilience in the face of losing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — she insisted that it was Joe Biden , not Trump , who had the strength and experience to understand what military families went through .
Biden , not Trump knows how to stand up for what is right , and how to stand up to global bullies .
And she coined the perfect name for Trump : `` Coward In Chief . ''
SEN. DUCKWORTH : Our military spouses hold their families together , praying for their loved one 's safety wherever they are deployed and serving as caregivers to our disabled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces and starting again whenever the next tour or the next war arises .
Joe Biden understands these sacrifices because he 's made them himself .
When his son Beau deployed to Iraq , his burden was also shouldered by his family .
Joe knows the fear military live because he 's felt that dread of never knowing if your deployed loved one is safe .
He understands their bravery because he has had to muster that same strength every hour of every day Beau was overseas .
That 's the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who understands the risks they face and who would actually protect them by doing his job as Commander in Chief .
Instead , they have a Coward in Chief who wo n't stand up to Vladimir Putin , read his daily intelligence briefings or even publicly admonish adversaries for reportedly putting bounties on our troops heads .
As president , Joe Biden would never let tyrants manipulate him like a puppet .
He would never pervert our military to stroke his own ego .
He would never turn his back on our troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their Constitutional rights .
Joe Biden would stand up for what 's right , stand tall for our troops and stand strong against our enemies because unlike Trump , Joe Biden has common decency .
He has common sense .
He can command both from experience and from strength .
Donald Trump does n't deserve to call himself Commander in Chief for another four minutes , let alone another four years .
Our troops deserve better .
Our country deserves better .

On the closing night of the Democratic National Convention, Illinois' Senator Tammy Duckworth sliced and diced Donald Trump right it would hurt a typical grade-school bully. His ego and his strength. She called him a coward. She called him a puppet, in a subtle shout-out to the woman who should rightfully be sitting in the Oval right now. And she called him weak.
After telling her story — an inspirational one of her rise in the military ranks, her bravery, her strength and resilience in the face of losing her legs and still learning how to walk — she insisted that it was Joe Biden, not Trump, who had the strength and experience to understand what military families went through. Biden, not Trump knows how to stand up for what is right, and how to stand up to global bullies. And she coined the perfect name for Trump: "Coward In Chief."


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--UPDATED: Donald Trump Loses Another Appeal To Keep Taxes Hidden From NY AG

Poor Donald Trump is having a very bad day .
First , one of the main architects of his campaign ( and former WH advisor ) Steve Bannon was arrested for fraud related to a GoFundMe campaign which raised over $ 25M to build a wall , but appears to have partially been used to fund personal expenses for numerous people associated with the campaign .
Second , a federal judge ruled that New York State prosecutors could have access to Trump 's accounting records and taxes , throwing the appeal out -- with prejudice , meaning he ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling comes after the Supreme Court sent the case back down to the lower court just a month ago .
Trump 's attorneys continued to claim that he had `` absolute immunity '' , which is not a legal term and is completely fabricated .
Trump has already appealed and is asking the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for emergency help ( ie a Hail Mary please save me move ) .
CNN reports that the subpoena could be enforced as early as next week .
In the 103-page ruling , U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim of `` absolute immunity '' : The Manhattan DA , Cy Vance , has been seeing accounting records from Donald Trump and the Trump Organization to investigate whether they broke any state laws in regards to payments made to women Trump paid to hush about his affairs with them .
It is quite possible that they may discover many other crimes while reviewing the taxes , though , and this is almost definitely why Trump is fighting so hard to hide them .
He does not care about the hush money payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other crimes , such as tax laws .
Vance had agreed to wait a full week to enforce the subpoena .
Trump 's attorney 's did n't even wait an hour before filing their appeal .
CNN reports that `` the appeals court could hear Trump 's challenge and will separately have to decide if the subpoena should be put on hold '' so this could move very fast .
They could also deny an appeal and hold that the Court 's ruling stands .
Trump would have limited options at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the story unfolds .
UPDATED 8/21/20 : Trump has officially lost his request for a stay of the ruling of the lower court .
Courthouse News reports that a Federal Judge made a quick ruling on the request for a stay .
In his ruling , Judge Marrero states that the Court is concerned about `` further delay on the grand jury ’ s '' probe .
Further , Judge Marrero writes that `` The court notes that its views remain unchanged with respect to the president ’ s likelihood of success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns ... regarding the effect of further delay on the grand jury ’ s investigation . ''
But , this does not end the matter .
Trump has asked for the same stay from SCOTUS .
Based on July 's ruling from SCOTUS , in which they remanded the case ( sent back ) to the lower court , it is highly likely they will make a quick decision and do the exact same thing .
If so , they could dispense the request and simply issue a denial to hear the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done and Cy Vance could get access to Trump 's accounting documents within a matter of weeks , or even days .
This could move very fast .
Trump has few options left to fight this case .

Poor Donald Trump is having a very bad day. First, one of the main architects of his campaign (and former WH advisor) Steve Bannon was arrested for fraud related to a GoFundMe campaign which raised over $25M to build a wall, but appears to have partially been used to fund personal expenses for numerous people associated with the campaign. Second, a federal judge ruled that New York State prosecutors could have access to Trump's accounting records and taxes, throwing the appeal out -- with prejudice, meaning he can't come back and appeal again.
The ruling comes after the Supreme Court sent the case back down to the lower court just a month ago. Trump's attorneys continued to claim that he had "absolute immunity", which is not a legal term and is completely fabricated. Trump has already appealed and is asking the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for emergency help (ie a Hail Mary please save me move). CNN reports that the subpoena could be enforced as early as next week.
In the 103-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero wrote about Trump's claim of "absolute immunity":
“As this court suggested in its earlier ruling in this litigation, that notion, applied as so robustly proclaimed by the president’s advocates, is as unprecedented and far-reaching as it is perilous to the rule of law and other bedrock constitutional principles on which this country was founded and by which it continues to be governed.”
The Manhattan DA, Cy Vance, has been seeing accounting records from Donald Trump and the Trump Organization to investigate whether they broke any state laws in regards to payments made to women Trump paid to hush about his affairs with them. It is quite possible that they may discover many other crimes while reviewing the taxes, though, and this is almost definitely why Trump is fighting so hard to hide them. He does not care about the hush money payments. But, he does care about many other crimes, such as tax laws.
Vance had agreed to wait a full week to enforce the subpoena. Trump's attorney's didn't even wait an hour before filing their appeal. CNN reports that "the appeals court could hear Trump's challenge and will separately have to decide if the subpoena should be put on hold" so this could move very fast. They could also deny an appeal and hold that the Court's ruling stands. Trump would have limited options at that point.
We will update this story as the story unfolds.
UPDATED 8/21/20: Trump has officially lost his request for a stay of the ruling of the lower court. Courthouse News reports that a Federal Judge made a quick ruling on the request for a stay. In his ruling, Judge Marrero states that the Court is concerned about "further delay on the grand jury’s" probe.
A federal judge DENIES Trump's motion to stay his ruling allowing Manhattan DA Vance to subpoena his financial records, including his tax returns.
Judge Marrero's also concerned about "further delay on the grand jury’s" probe.
Background, @CourthouseNews https://t.co/pkMdUNO9HY pic.twitter.com/ViE3blzk6f — Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) August 21, 2020
Further, Judge Marrero writes that "The court notes that its views remain unchanged with respect to the president’s likelihood of success on the merits... particularly given the concerns ... regarding the effect of further delay on the grand jury’s investigation."
"The court notes that its views remain unchanged with respect to the president’s likelihood of success on the merits... particularly given the concerns ... regarding the effect of further delay on the grand jury’s investigation."
Doc: https://t.co/iMPAya1Tas — Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) August 21, 2020
But, this does not end the matter. Trump has asked for the same stay from SCOTUS. Based on July's ruling from SCOTUS, in which they remanded the case (sent back) to the lower court, it is highly likely they will make a quick decision and do the exact same thing. If so, they could dispense the request and simply issue a denial to hear the case. If that happens, it is done and Cy Vance could get access to Trump's accounting documents within a matter of weeks, or even days.
This could move very fast. Trump has few options left to fight this case.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Bannon's 'Joke' Gave The Game Away At His 'Wall-a-Thon' Fundraiser

As one Tweeter noted , `` All criminals secretly want to get caught . ''
During a 2019 online fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ the Wall '' fraud , Steve Bannon actually said this : STEVE BANNON : Welcome @ @ @ @ @ K. Bannon .
We 're off the coast of Saint-Tropez in southern France , in @ @ @ @ @ on the million-dollar yacht of Brian Kolfage .
Brian Kolfage -- who took all that @ @ @ @ @ .
They 're laughing all the way to a 20 prison sentence , now .
@ @ @ @ @ 40 years in prison if convicted , but would likely get much shorter sentences .
@ @ @ @ @ defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a $ 25 million crowdfunding campaign called “ @ @ @ @ @ Bannon used hundreds of thousands of dollars of that money to cover personal expenses , @ @ @ @ @

As one Tweeter noted, "All criminals secretly want to get caught."
During a 2019 online fundraiser for the "We Build the Wall" fraud, Steve Bannon actually said this:
STEVE BANNON: Welcome back and this is Stephen K. Bannon. We're off the coast of Saint-Tropez in southern France, in the Mediterranean. We're on the million-dollar yacht of Brian Kolfage. Brian Kolfage -- who took all that money from Build The Wall.
Brian Kolfage laughs.
They're laughing all the way to a 20 prison sentence, now.
They each face up to 40 years in prison if convicted, but would likely get much shorter sentences. Prosecutors accused the defendants of defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through a $25 million crowdfunding campaign called “We Build the Wall.” Bannon used hundreds of thousands of dollars of that money to cover personal expenses, according to the charges.
Media Matters


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Hillary Clinton: GOP Senators Seem Like They've Had A Lobotomy

The `` Do n't Sugarcoat It '' award for this week goes to Hillary Clinton .
Hillary is right .
What happened to the Republican Senate that even those not up for reelection this year are letting Trump get away with foreign interference in our elections even today ?
Have they been lobotomized ?
JOY ANN REID : Your speech in combination with former President Obama and Senator Harris , you know , really did put together sort of a package of dire warnings to the American people .
But those same warnings really have been heard really since 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States Senate .
And we knew that in 2016 Senator McConnell , Mitch McConnell , refused to protect the election that you were a part of .
You served with these people .
You know , and you were very well known for working quite well across the aisle and having a lot of good allies on the other side of the aisle.Yes , the Senate Republicans did sign off on that damning Senate intelligence report about the 2016 election .
But there has been no outcry , really , about what Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on American troops .
No real outcry about any of it , including , you know , the interference of an adversary into the election .
Does that surprise you or does it affirm something you learned about your former Senate colleagues on the other side ?
HILLARY CLINTON : Joy , it does surprise me and it really saddens me .
I served with a lot of people who are still there .
And I give a lot of credit to the bipartisan report from the Senate Intelligence Committee that just came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes chapter and verse about all of the interference in the 2016 election .
But more importantly , that it continues today .
You know , you have the intelligence officials of even the Trump administration sounding the warnings .
And you have a lot of good legislation that has come out of the House under Nancy Pelosi that goes to the Senate and is just basically buried by Mitch McConnell .
I do n't understand what has happened to the people that I served with , I worked with , I traveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had like a lobotomy or something .
They have given up their principles , their values , their backbone to following Trump regardless of where he leads , which they know , and I believe they know , is , you know , unconstitutional , often illegal , reckless , wrong , whatever adjective you want to use .
So I ca n't explain it , Joy .
I give credit to people like Mitt Romney who do stand up and speak out .
But I wish that there had been more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Republican Senator to spoke out against Joe McCarthy back in the early '50s .
You know , where is that kind of leadership ?
And it really saddens me that it seems to be absent .

The "Don't Sugarcoat It" award for this week goes to Hillary Clinton.
Hillary is right. What happened to the Republican Senate that even those not up for reelection this year are letting Trump get away with foreign interference in our elections even today?
Have they been lobotomized?
JOY ANN REID: Your speech in combination with former President Obama and Senator Harris, you know, really did put together sort of a package of dire warnings to the American people. But those same warnings really have been heard really since 2016 by your former colleagues in the United States Senate. And we knew that in 2016 Senator McConnell, Mitch McConnell, refused to protect the election that you were a part of. You served with these people. You know, and you were very well known for working quite well across the aisle and having a lot of good allies on the other side of the aisle.Yes, the Senate Republicans did sign off on that damning Senate intelligence report about the 2016 election. But there has been no outcry, really, about what Russia did. No outcry about the bounties on American troops. No real outcry about any of it, including, you know, the interference of an adversary into the election. Does that surprise you or does it affirm something you learned about your former Senate colleagues on the other side?
HILLARY CLINTON: Joy, it does surprise me and it really saddens me. I served with a lot of people who are still there. And I give a lot of credit to the bipartisan report from the Senate Intelligence Committee that just came out with a fifth volume that really goes chapter and verse about all of the interference in the 2016 election. But more importantly, that it continues today. You know, you have the intelligence officials of even the Trump administration sounding the warnings. And you have a lot of good legislation that has come out of the House under Nancy Pelosi that goes to the Senate and is just basically buried by Mitch McConnell. I don't understand what has happened to the people that I served with, I worked with, I traveled with, who literally seem to have had like a lobotomy or something. They have given up their principles, their values, their backbone to following Trump regardless of where he leads, which they know, and I believe they know, is, you know, unconstitutional, often illegal, reckless, wrong, whatever adjective you want to use. So I can't explain it, Joy. I give credit to people like Mitt Romney who do stand up and speak out. But I wish that there had been more, like Margaret Chase Smith, who was the first Republican Senator to spoke out against Joe McCarthy back in the early '50s. You know, where is that kind of leadership? And it really saddens me that it seems to be absent.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Senator's Hot Mic F-Bombs During Post Office Hearing Are Your New Ringtone

We usually do n't post `` videos of a TV screen '' here at Crooks and Liars .
But something about this particular clip being on an actual TV ?
Makes it art .
Senator Tom Carper , 73-year-old Democrat from Delaware , would likely have retired from the Senate with very few Americans having any recollection of him .
But Tom Carper is now internet famous and likely to become a gif , or better yet , a ringtone .
During the Senate Post Office hearing , Carper was apparently having some technical difficulties with his Zoom experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word three times in rapid succession .
A female staff member appears on screen to assist .
Ron Johnson , chairman of the committee , asked him if his mic was on .
`` We do n't want to be on TV again . ''
said the chairman .
Twitter , of course , lit right up .
UPDATE : ( Karoli ) Happy Friday !
Here 's an MP3 file for you to use for your ringtone .
Just make sure you put your phone in silent mode before that all-important Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ download it .

We usually don't post "videos of a TV screen" here at Crooks and Liars.
But something about this particular clip being on an actual TV? Makes it art.
Senator Tom Carper, 73-year-old Democrat from Delaware, would likely have retired from the Senate with very few Americans having any recollection of him.
Who is that??🤣 — TrumpSucks! (@TrumpSu44228611) August 21, 2020
Blooper aside, Tom Carper knows more about the postal service than any other U S Senator. — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 21, 2020
But Tom Carper is now internet famous and likely to become a gif, or better yet, a ringtone.
During the Senate Post Office hearing, Carper was apparently having some technical difficulties with his Zoom experience, which led him to say the eff word three times in rapid succession. A female staff member appears on screen to assist.
Ron Johnson, chairman of the committee, asked him if his mic was on. "We don't want to be on TV again." said the chairman.
Twitter, of course, lit right up.
To be fair, that’s what I say every time I see Ron Johnson, too — ElElegante101 (@skolanach) August 21, 2020
I respect Tom Carper 5x more now. — Brad Adamston (@BradAdamston) August 21, 2020
And THIS:
Sen. Tom Carper's aid needs a "FUCK FUCK FUCK"-ing raise! — DeeJ 🇺🇸 Trump Is the Virus 🏳🌈 (@PassTheSalty) August 21, 2020
Best and most truthful part of this hearing. — quiltbunny (@kdwyernichols) August 21, 2020
UPDATE: (Karoli) Happy Friday! Here's an MP3 file for you to use for your ringtone. Just make sure you put your phone in silent mode before that all-important Zoom meeting. :)
Click here to download it.


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--Friday News Dump: Even Fox News Liked Joe's DNC Speech, And Other News

that moment when you were hoping to fill today 's show with dementia segments but it `` turns out he did okay ! ''
pic.twitter.com/b7cD3OTdm8 Things seem a little brighter today than they have in a while .
And oh , look : Except , of course , this has-been : QUESTION : How do we know Biden 's speech was live ?
Maybe he was doing different takes all day until they got one where he didn ’ t stumble all over himself .
“ Biden ’ s advisers are preparing for the opening months of his administration almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address the coronavirus based on how severe it remains and on whether a vaccine is available.
“ https : //t.co/ZiARTOKUGh .
@ NicolleDWallace gets it 💯 : `` I think that he changed the dynamics of this race .
When he said , 'while I will be a Democratic candidate , I will be an American president , ' he now - as the challenger to an incumbent - is the guy running on the side of the whole country . ''
pic.twitter.com/2N7x91dzdV People take for granted that almost everyone in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take for granted the sheer range of crimes .
Espionage , perjury , threatening to assassinate a dog , tax fraud , mail fraud & getting pinched on a yacht by a mailman .
You got ta work at that shit .
It was smart of Trump 's team to have him be interviewed live during the DNC .
It 's a good distraction — not for Fox viewers , but for Trump himself .
Otherwise , he would have been watching and tweeting , and almost certainly could not have resisted bullying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as I 've been doing this , I 'll admit my throat got a little tight last night when @ JoeBiden offered condolences to the survivors of the 173K we 've lost .
Do n't underestimate the power of that gesture .
The contrast to `` It is what it is , '' could not be more stark .
America First truly has become America alone .
Foreign policy unilateralism has isolated the US more than Iran .
Cake & eat it diplomacy , withdrawing from the JCPOA then seeking its benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/W3iD7EWhXk Double Trouble : Two newly formed tropical depressions at opposite ends of the Caribbean were expected to become tropical storms Friday .
Forecasters projecting potential tracks for both that could take them toward the United States , possibly as hurricanes .
https : //t.co/CKcFdJoXr0 Voting in the time of COVID-19 : A federal judge in Indiana has blocked the state from tossing out mail-in ballots with signature match issues without first giving the voter notice and an opportunity to fix the issue https : //t.co/1KEuDjVVew pic.twitter.com/FbJgJ9Vska This is truly heartbreaking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ original Star Trek TV series ) needs help , after suffering thru elder abuse at the hands of Gilbert Bell .
Nichelle Nichols is a national treasure and a trailblazer .
She is our elder .
https : //t.co/L2WM1cDKNV I can confirm that @ JoeBiden will immediately stop what he is doing to help a grieving family .
In 2014 I was on a flight with him when I learned that my abuelita had passed .
He came to the back of the plane & asked me to come up .
He then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & called her .
pic.twitter.com/jC1HwRCyKH Also , in terms of a `` false media narrative , '' it 's not just reporters sounding the alarm .
For the most part it 's postal workers themselves .
Here are several in Michigan who told me how alarmed and pissed off about this they are : https : //t.co/dPEzEwaURZ Senate Zoom issues : Sen. Tom Carper 's video feed does n't come up as it 's his turn to question .
They move on to the next senator .
Carper 's feed goes live right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
fuck ! ''
Julián Castro -- - > Joe Biden In this election , I started as a volunteer for Julián Castro , and now I ’ m an elected pledged delegate for Joe Biden .
I ’ m thankful there are people like @ JulianCastro who show me that there ’ s a place for me in politics .
pic.twitter.com/LrbfWVKVaF DEPT .
OF AT LEAST FOR NOW , THINGS ARE LOOKING UP Have a great weekend !
Do n't forget to wear your masks , and remember , make a plan @ @ @

Things seem a little brighter today than they have in a while. And oh, look:
Fox News's Chris Wallace praises Biden's speech: "I thought it was an enormously effective speech. Remember, Donald Trump has been talking for months about Joe Biden as mentally shot ... I thought that he blew a hole, a big hole in the characterization." pic.twitter.com/sChU4jBzw2 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 21, 2020
Chris Wallace on Fox News: "an enormously effective speech" that "blew a hole" in Trump's attempts to depict Biden as feeble.
"Donald Trump is gonna have to run against a candidate, not a caricature," Wallace said. — Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) August 21, 2020
Fox News panel with Wallace, Hume, Rove, and others all pretty much unanimously agree that Biden excelled in his speech. (Of course, don't expect Fox talk show hosts such as Hannity and Ingraham to echo this.) — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) August 21, 2020
This was like when Trump was booed at the baseball game. Their faces give them away. https://t.co/qtLsEQcC71 — Michelangelo Signorile, subscribe to my newsletter (@MSignorile) August 21, 2020
“A home run.” — Fox News https://t.co/broir7ooEi — The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) August 21, 2020
Except, of course, this has-been:
QUESTION: How do we know Biden's speech was live? Maybe he was doing different takes all day until they got one where he didn’t stumble all over himself. — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 21, 2020
********
“Biden’s advisers are preparing for the opening months of his administration almost as a rescue mission, with contingencies to address the coronavirus based on how severe it remains and on whether a vaccine is available.“ https://t.co/ZiARTOKUGh — Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) August 21, 2020
.@NicolleDWallace gets it 💯: "I think that he changed the dynamics of this race. When he said, 'while I will be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American president,' he now - as the challenger to an incumbent - is the guy running on the side of the whole country." pic.twitter.com/2N7x91dzdV — Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) August 21, 2020
James Carville tonight to Brian Williams:
Today was a great day. It started with Trumps former campaign manager being arrested on a yacht for fleecing poor people and ended with Biden saying God bless the troops. — audubon (@audubon3514) August 21, 2020
Trump cabinet officials voted in 2018 meeting to separate migrant kids https://t.co/HkDUGtHM96 via @nbcnews — Suburban Guerrilla Ω (@SusieMadrak) August 21, 2020
People take for granted that almost everyone in Trump world has been indicted. But they take for granted the sheer range of crimes. Espionage, perjury, threatening to assassinate a dog, tax fraud, mail fraud & getting pinched on a yacht by a mailman. You gotta work at that shit. — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 21, 2020
Joe Biden quoting Kirkagard is a pretty “man of the people my ass!” moment. — Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) August 21, 2020
Thinking working class folks don’t read a wide range of subjects/authors is way more elitist than quoting Kierkegaard. — Katie MacBride (@msmacb) August 21, 2020
It was smart of Trump's team to have him be interviewed live during the DNC. It's a good distraction — not for Fox viewers, but for Trump himself. Otherwise, he would have been watching and tweeting, and almost certainly could not have resisted bullying that kid with a stutter. — Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) August 21, 2020
Trump says that on election day he's going to send law enforcement to polling locations pic.twitter.com/OpaYvUBY8P — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) August 21, 2020
Forcing USPS to prefund benefits in 2006, notes @thelisagraves, "would make the Postal Service more attractive to future investors as part of an initial public offering.... it was clearly designed with a view toward privatization in mind." https://t.co/6qKtqVixBz #USPSsabotage — Tom Sullivan (@BloggersRUs) August 21, 2020
As long as I've been doing this, I'll admit my throat got a little tight last night when @JoeBiden offered condolences to the survivors of the 173K we've lost. Don't underestimate the power of that gesture. The contrast to "It is what it is," could not be more stark. — ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) August 21, 2020
Donald Trump denies any involvement in “We Build The Wall,” but to no one’s surprise, it’s a lie. pic.twitter.com/9ShaJ2p7rd — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 21, 2020
America First truly has become America alone. Foreign policy unilateralism has isolated the US more than Iran. Cake & eat it diplomacy, withdrawing from the JCPOA then seeking its benefits, is a non starter. https://t.co/W3iD7EWhXk — Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) August 21, 2020
Basically, the people who led the "Lock her up!" campaign are now sitting in jail cells. @HillaryClinton, of course, is not. https://t.co/KhzHDZmMLl — Mark Elliott (@markmobility) August 20, 2020
Double Trouble: Two newly formed tropical depressions at opposite ends of the Caribbean were expected to become tropical storms Friday. Forecasters projecting potential tracks for both that could take them toward the United States, possibly as hurricanes. https://t.co/CKcFdJoXr0 — Action News on 6abc (@6abc) August 21, 2020
In a virtual rally with Stacey Abrams, Beto O'Rourke and Julian Castro, TX D Senate candidate @mjhegar defines her race vs @JohnCornyn as a contest between an "ass-kicker and a boot-licker." — Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) August 21, 2020
‘Are you really going to impeach me?’: How the Ukraine bombshell unfolded over 48 hours and laid bare Trump’s fixation with Biden https://t.co/yE7IPqH1NT — Steven Ginsberg (@stevenjay) August 21, 2020
Miles Taylor, a former senior Trump administration official, says the president directed officials to cut wildfire relief funding to California because voters there overwhelmingly opposed him in 2016. https://t.co/VRonscvpTR — ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 17, 2020
Five Huge Tech Giants -- Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Facebook & Microsoft -- Tighten Their Grip on the U.S. Economy
In 1929, Sears & A&P had 3% retail sales, causing concern & spurring anti-trust laws.
Today Walmart & Amazon control 15% of retail saleshttps://t.co/X2AGJRFFxx — Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) August 21, 2020
Voting in the time of COVID-19: A federal judge in Indiana has blocked the state from tossing out mail-in ballots with signature match issues without first giving the voter notice and an opportunity to fix the issue https://t.co/1KEuDjVVew pic.twitter.com/FbJgJ9Vska — Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) August 21, 2020
FreedomWorks promotes deceptive Facebook campaign about mail balloting - The Washington Post https://t.co/KSpZR08NVG — Joshua Holland 🔥 (@JoshuaHol) August 21, 2020
This is truly heartbreaking. Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from the original Star Trek TV series) needs help, after suffering thru elder abuse at the hands of Gilbert Bell. Nichelle Nichols is a national treasure and a trailblazer. She is our elder. https://t.co/L2WM1cDKNV — Your staff is broken. (@DamoneWilliams_) August 19, 2020
What is your voting plan?
Seriously, share your plan so we have plenty of ideas to share.#MyVotingPlanpic.twitter.com/UlEnwP1gqc — Ted Corcoran (Red T Raccoon) (@RedTRaccoon) August 21, 2020
Children have largely been spared from COVID-19 mortality, but not completely so. Thinking of this child's family and community tonight. https://t.co/BQnXtRsDuW — Dr. Tara C. Smith (@aetiology) August 21, 2020
I can confirm that @JoeBiden will immediately stop what he is doing to help a grieving family. In 2014 I was on a flight with him when I learned that my abuelita had passed. He came to the back of the plane & asked me to come up. He then asked for my Mom’s number & called her. pic.twitter.com/jC1HwRCyKH — Cristóbal Alex (@CristobalJAlex) August 21, 2020
Front page of the Scranton Times-Tribune the day after @JoeBiden accepts the Democratic nomination and @realDonaldTrump paid a visit. pic.twitter.com/0o2ueqHlRd — Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) August 21, 2020
Courts have accepted #DACA’s legality & have blocked attempts to abruptly cancel it, but some of the biggest co. are unilaterally refusing to hire #Dreamers including @ProcterGamble #Trump’s attacks on the program have fueled this discrimination. https://t.co/LTIgl3CELM — @tiffanydcross (@TiffanyDCross) August 21, 2020
Also, in terms of a "false media narrative," it's not just reporters sounding the alarm. For the most part it's postal workers themselves. Here are several in Michigan who told me how alarmed and pissed off about this they are: https://t.co/dPEzEwaURZ — AJ Vicens (@AJVicens) August 21, 2020
Under Trump, @USDOL has systematically weakened rules meant to protect workers’ pay, retirement, and safety.
A former OSHA policy adviser warns the administration is “starving” the agency of the staff it needs to keep workers safe. https://t.co/mL26BuVVEm — Vox (@voxdotcom) August 21, 2020
Magnus Carlsen wins richest and most-watched online chess event ever https://t.co/whK33cFhqU pic.twitter.com/jUbze48K1N — CNN International (@cnni) August 21, 2020
She's an expert at spotting fake news. This is what she wants you to know.https://t.co/2Dyxj69O1G pic.twitter.com/eK4eKDmHkW — Upworthy (@Upworthy) August 13, 2020
USPS email tells managers not to reconnect sorting machines - CNNPolitics https://t.co/Hl7jJUKGSm — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 21, 2020
why can't I find anything about showerheads on Joe Biden's website — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) August 21, 2020
On Wednesday, Facebook deleted groups and limited ads belonging to QAnon conspiracists, far-right militias, and in a stunning example of false equivalence, anti-fascists. https://t.co/EvFsDo37Ic — VICE (@VICE) August 21, 2020
Senate Zoom issues: Sen. Tom Carper's video feed doesn't come up as it's his turn to question. They move on to the next senator.
Carper's feed goes live right as he says "fuck! fuck! fuck!" — Sam Brodey (@sambrodey) August 21, 2020
Julián Castro ---> Joe Biden
In this election, I started as a volunteer for Julián Castro, and now I’m an elected pledged delegate for Joe Biden.
I’m thankful there are people like @JulianCastro who show me that there’s a place for me in politics. pic.twitter.com/LrbfWVKVaF — Rachel R. Gonzalez (@RachelRGonzalez) August 21, 2020
DEPT. OF AT LEAST FOR NOW, THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
🚨 Lincoln (4) and Quincy (2) from Scranton, PA have endorsed @JoeBiden
"We're two scrappy kids from Scranton who support Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/Y46o6I5Ivw — Rosie Lapowsky (@rosielapowsky) August 16, 2020
Taking my big brother for a walk ♥
🎥: jasperthegoldenboy (IG)#mydogiscutest pic.twitter.com/NtduUFTQms — My Dog Is Cutest (@mydogiscutest) August 20, 2020
Wait til he gets to Round 7! pic.twitter.com/WtR2BdlVoA — The Dodo (@dodo) August 21, 2020
U.K. conservationists have successfully brought back butterflies declared extinct in 1979 - Upworthy https://t.co/swRGIaojlP — CZEdwards (@ 🏠, with 🧰) (@CZEdwards) August 14, 2020
After a day of doing absolutely nothing 🐶 pic.twitter.com/lXjSNNQGHn — Puppies 🐶 (@PopularPuppies) August 21, 2020
Man reunited with his dog pic.twitter.com/zkwlORbs3X — Puppies 🐶 (@PopularPuppies) August 21, 2020
This video of pandas just being pandas while a zookeeper desperately tries to rake leaves is the best video on the internet https://t.co/XknWMhEMbk pic.twitter.com/pl1xPh19hP — Kyle Hill (@Sci_Phile) August 19, 2020
Have a great weekend! Don't forget to wear your masks, and remember, make a plan to vote!


crooksandliars--2020-08-21--LIVE NOW: Postmaster General Testifies Before Senate Panel

Trump isn ’ t the only Republican who ’ s been visiting with DeJoy , and DeJoy isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ who can thank Republicans for his sudden rise .

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