crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Elie Mystal: 'If Mitch McConnell Can Do It, Then The Democrats Can Do It'

Dare we get our hopes up for serious court reform at the Supreme Court level ?
Well , when Elie Mystal is on My TeeVee twice in 48 hours telling it like it is about a potential 29-justice SCOTUS , I have to admit I allow the old expectations to rise a little .
Not a lot , do n't worry , I 'm not delusional , but hell , yeah , if you put Mystal in a room with the cautious Dems who are so concerned , `` Oh , my , we ca n't let THIS happen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they might make it 13 , and then where would it end ?
?
? ''
I 'm betting he could convince a lot of them that it 's no big deal .
In fact , as he argued on AM Joy this past Saturday , here in The Nation six months ago , and other places for years before that , court expansion is not only a legitimate proportionate response to Mitch McConnell 's ratf*cking of President Obama and the nation in 2016 and beyond .
It 's actually good for jurisprudence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he made his case on The Beat With Ari Melber .
Let 's get the vengeance part out of the way .
Mystal noted , MYSTAL : As you laid out so brilliantly in your opening , Mitch McConnell has already changed the number of justices on the Supreme Court .
He changed it from nine to eight .
If Mitch McConnell can do it , then the Democrats can do it .
If the Republicans want to say that the number of justices on the Supreme Court is a function of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have raw political power , they are allowed to use it .
And use it effectively .
[ ... ] I do not think that this country can long survive a world where only Republicans get to appoint justices to the Supreme Court .
That is the world Mitch McConnell would have us live in .
Melber agreed , and asked why it was so hard to get Democrats to understand that `` if Mitch McConnell 's hostage taking is rewarded , if there 's no consequence , then you 're actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mystal explained it was because Dems are n't thinking big enough ... eleven justices ?
Thirteen ?
Why not 29 ?
Why not 50 ?
He said the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has 29 judges on it , and asked , `` Can you give me an argument why the Supreme Court should be so significantly smaller than our circuit courts ?
I ca n't . ''
And then he dropped one of the biggest reasons for that : If there were that many justices on the Supreme Court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw the nation into a constitutional crisis : `` The more justices on the Supreme Court there are , the less important any one random death is to our polity , '' said Mystal .
Furthermore , for people who are genuinely deeply concerned that court expansion is a potential `` doomsday '' scenario — Chuck Rosenberg , for example , Chuck Schumer , Joe Biden , etc .
— Mystal did his best to assure them this was not in the slightest a scenario to fear .
Au contraire .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circuit courts , most cases would be heard by a randomly-drawn panel of three judges out of the 29 or 50 ( or however many ) justices sat on the court .
Mystal suggested not only would this positively change the kinds of cases that would make it to the Supreme Court , but it would positively impact the NUMBER of cases that could make it to the Supreme Court .
Furthermore , people could n't be sure which judges would be deciding their cases , taking the politics largely OUT of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capacity for increased diversity .
`` Expanded Supreme Court would hear more cases .
That 's more opportunity for intellectual , gender , and racial diversity .
Right now the Supreme Court is currently staffed by nine people who went to two law schools .
What 's up with that ?
You could fix that , '' he argued .
Melber was intrigued , suggesting that for extremely important cases , the court could meet en banc ( in full ) to decide those , and Mystal confirmed that was exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expanded judiciary , a consecutive series of 15-14 decisions would be extremely unlikely .
Compare that to now , when the possibility a 5-4 split leaves the population on tenterhooks awaiting every single decision , and the likelihood of such a split is high ?
Which seems better for the country ?
MYSTAL : Do you know how difficult it would be to have a string of decisions -- say the court is 29 people .
Do you know how difficult it would be to have a string of high profile decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost never happen .
Because , Ari , as you know , the law is frankly too complicated for that , right ?
These high-level jurists have too many things going on to break down along hard core party lines , as you add more and more and more people to the mix .
So , again , from a perspective of making the court less political , having more justices , having their deaths not matter as much , all of those are good things , before you now reenter the hypocrisy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having the current court based only on their whims .
Please get Mystal into a room with the rest of these cautious Democrats .
We are ready to use our power .
Politeness is out the window .
Fair is fair .
What the GOP did to us is NOT fair .
But expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court WOULD be fair .
To everyone .

Dare we get our hopes up for serious court reform at the Supreme Court level? Well, when Elie Mystal is on My TeeVee twice in 48 hours telling it like it is about a potential 29-justice SCOTUS, I have to admit I allow the old expectations to rise a little.
Not a lot, don't worry, I'm not delusional, but hell, yeah, if you put Mystal in a room with the cautious Dems who are so concerned, "Oh, my, we can't let THIS happen, if we make it 11, then they might make it 13, and then where would it end???" I'm betting he could convince a lot of them that it's no big deal.
In fact, as he argued on AM Joy this past Saturday, here in The Nation six months ago, and other places for years before that, court expansion is not only a legitimate proportionate response to Mitch McConnell's ratf*cking of President Obama and the nation in 2016 and beyond. It's actually good for jurisprudence at the Supreme Court level. Tonight, he made his case on The Beat With Ari Melber.
Let's get the vengeance part out of the way. Mystal noted,
MYSTAL: As you laid out so brilliantly in your opening, Mitch McConnell has already changed the number of justices on the Supreme Court. He changed it from nine to eight. If Mitch McConnell can do it, then the Democrats can do it. If the Republicans want to say that the number of justices on the Supreme Court is a function of raw political power, then when the Democrats have raw political power, they are allowed to use it. And use it effectively.
[...]
I do not think that this country can long survive a world where only Republicans get to appoint justices to the Supreme Court. That is the world Mitch McConnell would have us live in.
Melber agreed, and asked why it was so hard to get Democrats to understand that "if Mitch McConnell's hostage taking is rewarded, if there's no consequence, then you're actually incentivizing them doing it to you again." Mystal explained it was because Dems aren't thinking big enough...eleven justices? Thirteen? Why not 29? Why not 50? He said the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has 29 judges on it, and asked, "Can you give me an argument why the Supreme Court should be so significantly smaller than our circuit courts? I can't." And then he dropped one of the biggest reasons for that:
If there were that many justices on the Supreme Court, the death of ONE person would not throw the nation into a constitutional crisis: "The more justices on the Supreme Court there are, the less important any one random death is to our polity," said Mystal.
Furthermore, for people who are genuinely deeply concerned that court expansion is a potential "doomsday" scenario — Chuck Rosenberg, for example, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, etc. — Mystal did his best to assure them this was not in the slightest a scenario to fear. Au contraire.
If the Supreme Court operated more like the larger circuit courts, most cases would be heard by a randomly-drawn panel of three judges out of the 29 or 50 (or however many) justices sat on the court. Mystal suggested not only would this positively change the kinds of cases that would make it to the Supreme Court, but it would positively impact the NUMBER of cases that could make it to the Supreme Court. Furthermore, people couldn't be sure which judges would be deciding their cases, taking the politics largely OUT of the appointments.
Additionally, Mystal hit on the capacity for increased diversity. "Expanded Supreme Court would hear more cases. That's more opportunity for intellectual, gender, and racial diversity. Right now the Supreme Court is currently staffed by nine people who went to two law schools. What's up with that? You could fix that," he argued.
Melber was intrigued, suggesting that for extremely important cases, the court could meet en banc (in full) to decide those, and Mystal confirmed that was exactly what he was proposing. And that with an expanded judiciary, a consecutive series of 15-14 decisions would be extremely unlikely. Compare that to now, when the possibility a 5-4 split leaves the population on tenterhooks awaiting every single decision, and the likelihood of such a split is high? Which seems better for the country?
MYSTAL: Do you know how difficult it would be to have a string of decisions -- say the court is 29 people. Do you know how difficult it would be to have a string of high profile decisions that came down 15-14? It would almost never happen. Because, Ari, as you know, the law is frankly too complicated for that, right? These high-level jurists have too many things going on to break down along hard core party lines, as you add more and more and more people to the mix. So, again, from a perspective of making the court less political, having more justices, having their deaths not matter as much, all of those are good things, before you now reenter the hypocrisy of McConnell and Graham and the Republicans having the current court based only on their whims.
Please get Mystal into a room with the rest of these cautious Democrats. We are ready to use our power. Politeness is out the window. Fair is fair. What the GOP did to us is NOT fair. But expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court WOULD be fair. To everyone.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Echidne of the Snakes : The so-called “ fertility equality ” movement assumes income inequality .
Off the Kuff : @ @ @ @ @ poll workers for the 2020 elections .
Believe it or not , Facebook is actually @ @ @ @ @ .
Blue Mass Group : While New Jersey has taken steps to fill state coffers @ @ @ @ @ is lagging .
Angry Bear : 2019 , the last year of the ten-year Obama @ @ @ @ @ in employment and household income .
Too bad that ’ s over .
Speaking of @ @ @ @ @ the day : `` A buffoon could have kept the recovery going , and in @ @ @ @ @ . ''
( Former Obama communications director Jen Psaki , September 9 , 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives .
Send your tips , @ @ @ @ @ to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com .

Echidne of the Snakes: The so-called “fertility equality” movement assumes income inequality.
Off the Kuff: America needs a lot of poll workers for the 2020 elections. Believe it or not, Facebook is actually being helpful in getting them.
Blue Mass Group: While New Jersey has taken steps to fill state coffers emptied by Coronavirus, Massachusetts is lagging.
Angry Bear: 2019, the last year of the ten-year Obama expansion, achieved big gains in employment and household income. Too bad that’s over.
Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"A buffoon could have kept the recovery going, and in fact one has so far." (Former Obama communications director Jen Psaki, September 9, 2018.)
Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Barbara Lagoa, Trump's Other Possible Nominee,  Would Be Doomed If She Were A Democrat, Much Less GO

Barbara Lagoa, Trump's Other Possible Nominee,  Would Be Doomed If She Were A Democrat, Much Less GOP

We 're all assuming that President Trump will pick Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat on the Supreme Court , but another possible appointee has emerged .
Politico reports : Leading Florida Republican politicians are launching an all-out effort to convince President Donald Trump to nominate federal Judge Barbara Lagoa to the U.S. Supreme Court — a move they say would boost his reelection chances in the must-win swing state .
The biggest names in the Florida GOP are working behind the scenes to advocate for Lagoa : U.S. Sens .
Marco Rubio and Rick Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Ron DeSantis , Rep. Matt Gaetz , Florida campaign director Susie Wiles and the president ’ s former impeachment defense lawyer , former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi , according to interviews with a dozen Republicans familiar with the effort .
... it ’ s Lagoa ’ s background as a Florida Cuban-American that could have the most salience for Trump .
Lagoa is young enough ( 52 ) to serve for at least thirty years .
She 's Catholic , which means that she 'll pass muster with Leonard Leo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federalist Society operative who oversees the selection of all Republican-appointed federal judges -- in fact , The Washington Post reports , Lagoa is conservative in all the ways that make Mitch McConnell 's heart skip a beat , according to the Post .
Particularly contentious could be her record on voting rights and executive power .
Lagoa concurred this month in a federal appeals court ruling that is expected to keep many of the 85,000 felons who have registered to vote in Florida from casting ballots ... .
On Florida ’ s high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state appeals court , she repeatedly sided with businesses , helping to turn back a higher minimum wage in Miami , limiting recourse for homeowners facing foreclosure , and reversing or rejecting cases of employees who sued Caterpillar and Uber .
And Florida Cubans will love this , as will longtime Fox viewers everywhere : But in the Post and Politico stories , I 'm not seeing any mention of this case : Losada , who appeared regularly on the long-running Spanish-language variety show Sábado Gigante , sent child porn images to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online chat room .
The 153-year sentence was reduced to 10 years before Lagoa 's ruling , but her ruling overturned the conviction altogether .
I 'm not a lawyer .
The ruling appears to be purely on due process grounds.But can you imagine the uproar if a Democratic president nominated someone to the Supreme Court who had overturned a kiddie porn conviction ?
Even before the QAnon era , there would have been wall-to-wall coverage on Fox News , and there would have been pious , more-in-sorrow-than-anger denunciations of the ruling by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gingrich would have been on every TV channel telling us this is what you get from the decadent , sex-crazed , morality-destroying Democrats .
It would have worked .
It would have forced the nominee to withdraw , even if the Senate had a comfortable Democratic majority .
But if Lagoa is the nominee , it probably wo n't matter at all .
The case wo n't even be mentioned in most news stories .
It 's quite possible that no Democrat will mention it .
Democrats do n't have a media infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however specious .
Republicans do .
That 's why this case would be fatal to a Democrat , and wo n't be if Lagoa is Trump 's pick .
Published with permission from No More Mister Nice Blog .

We're all assuming that President Trump will pick Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court, but another possible appointee has emerged. Politico reports:
Leading Florida Republican politicians are launching an all-out effort to convince President Donald Trump to nominate federal Judge Barbara Lagoa to the U.S. Supreme Court — a move they say would boost his reelection chances in the must-win swing state. The biggest names in the Florida GOP are working behind the scenes to advocate for Lagoa: U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have sprung into action, along with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida campaign director Susie Wiles and the president’s former impeachment defense lawyer, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to interviews with a dozen Republicans familiar with the effort. ... it’s Lagoa’s background as a Florida Cuban-American that could have the most salience for Trump.
Lagoa is young enough (52) to serve for at least thirty years. She's Catholic, which means that she'll pass muster with Leonard Leo, the little-known, unelected, long-time Federalist Society operative who oversees the selection of all Republican-appointed federal judges -- in fact, The Washington Post reports,
Lagoa’s husband, Paul C. Huck Jr., is the “godfather of the Federalist Society in Miami,” said José Félix Díaz, a former state legislator and consultant with Ballard Partners, a powerful lobbying firm closely associated with Trump.
(I guess this former state legislator doesn't think the word "godfather" has unsavory connotations in this context. In Miami, maybe it doesn't.)
Lagoa is conservative in all the ways that make Mitch McConnell's heart skip a beat, according to the Post.
Particularly contentious could be her record on voting rights and executive power. Lagoa concurred this month in a federal appeals court ruling that is expected to keep many of the 85,000 felons who have registered to vote in Florida from casting ballots.... On Florida’s high court, and before that, on a state appeals court, she repeatedly sided with businesses, helping to turn back a higher minimum wage in Miami, limiting recourse for homeowners facing foreclosure, and reversing or rejecting cases of employees who sued Caterpillar and Uber.
And Florida Cubans will love this, as will longtime Fox viewers everywhere:
Especially central for her ... was her experience as a member of the pro bono legal team representing the Miami relatives of Elián González, the Cuban boy whose mother drowned while trying to escape with him to the United States and whose subsequent custody case became an international cause celebre.
But in the Post and Politico stories, I'm not seeing any mention of this case:
... she authored the opinion that reversed the conviction of Adonis Losada, a former Univision comic actor who was sentenced to 153 years in prison for collecting child porn. Lagoa ruled that a Miami-Dade judge erred in not allowing Losada to defend himself at trial.
Losada, who appeared regularly on the long-running Spanish-language variety show Sábado Gigante, sent child porn images to an undercover cop he met in an online chat room. The 153-year sentence was reduced to 10 years before Lagoa's ruling, but her ruling overturned the conviction altogether.
I'm not a lawyer. The ruling appears to be purely on due process grounds.But can you imagine the uproar if a Democratic president nominated someone to the Supreme Court who had overturned a kiddie porn conviction? Even before the QAnon era, there would have been wall-to-wall coverage on Fox News, and there would have been pious, more-in-sorrow-than-anger denunciations of the ruling by one prominent Republican after another. Newt Gingrich would have been on every TV channel telling us this is what you get from the decadent, sex-crazed, morality-destroying Democrats.
It would have worked. It would have forced the nominee to withdraw, even if the Senate had a comfortable Democratic majority.
But if Lagoa is the nominee, it probably won't matter at all. The case won't even be mentioned in most news stories. It's quite possible that no Democrat will mention it.
Democrats don't have a media infrastructure that automatically amplifies every new partisan attack, however specious. Republicans do. That's why this case would be fatal to a Democrat, and won't be if Lagoa is Trump's pick.
Published with permission from No More Mister Nice Blog.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--FDR's Fireside Chat On Court Packing, March 9, 1937

The Nation 's justice correspondent told Ari Melber that Democrats need to use their raw political power when they get @ @ @ @ @ to make them less political .
Vengeance is just a bonus .

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


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Sheldon Whitehouse:  Hypocrite Republican Senators Are Slaves To Dark Money

Why are Republicans dead set on packing the Supreme Court with right-wing extremist idealogues ?
Not because they give a damn about abortion or so-called religious liberty .
Not because they have some loyalty to `` conservative values '' expressed as some noble concern .
Simply put , they 're doing it because their billionaire masters command it , and their billionaires are interested in keeping their money and supremacy .
No more , no less .
In this segment with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse , he lays out the threat the dark money boys pose , as he told Rachel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the hypocrisy ?
Why all the mendacity ?
Why has Mitch McConnell eliminated legislation in the Senate ?
Why all of the secrecy , all the attacks ? ''
Whitehouse asked .
`` I think that it points to the operation that has been run for some time , that unfortunately we as Democrats have not paid enough attention to , that is driving this behavior , '' he continued .
`` The biggest donors behind the Republican Party want to control the court , and they want that more than anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Kavanaugh through his troubles .
That 's why they blew out Garland for Gorsuch . ''
And who are those biggest donors ?
The usual suspects : Koch , Adelson , DeVos , Singer , Mercer , and more .
ExxonMobil , fracking interests , pharmaceuticals , and so on .
This is not about abortion .
It 's about money , and corporate control of the nation .
RACHEL MADDOW : ...
It seems like Republican senators writ large have no compunction whatsoever about going back on their own word on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a circumstance where that 's how your colleagues are treating this ?
Joining us now is Rhode Island 's US Senator , member of the Judiciary Committee , Senator Sheldon Whitehouse .
Thanks for making time to be here tonight .
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE : Glad to be with you .
MADDOW : So hypocrisy is like vitamin H right now in politics , and it seems like people are trying to overdose on it .
Republicans do not seem at all bothered about being called hypocrites and demonstrating hypocrisy in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does that affect how you and your colleagues are going to approach this fight ?
WHITEHOUSE : Well , I hope we think of it as a clue .
Why all the hypocrisy ?
Why all the mendacity ?
Why has Mitch McConnell eliminated legislation in the Senate ?
Why all of the secrecy , all the attacks ?
I think that it points to the operation that has been run for some time , that unfortunately we as Democrats have not paid enough attention to , that is driving this behavior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to control the court , and they want that more than anything else .
That 's why they stuck with Kavanaugh through his troubles .
That 's why they blew out Garland for Gorsuch .
And behind all of this is a fair amount of reporting about hundreds of millions of dollars being spent and phony front groups being set up , all the earmarks of a covert operation , except that it 's being run against our own government .
So focusing on that , I think ought to give us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the American public to what 's really going on here .
These are n't colleagues who are just doing this because it 's their nature .
They 're doing it because of pressure , and we need to respond to that and out this group that is behind all this mischief .
MADDOW : And , Senator , you 've been instrumental in trying to talk about this dynamic at work , not just for the Supreme Court , but this dynamic at work for judicial nominations throughout the federal court system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular and Republicans in general have prioritized judicial nominations , why they have done that and been willing to look away from every other thing that Trump has been able to do for them .
What do you think the public should understand about the real forces at work here ?
What 's the way that you pitch this ?
What 's your elevator pitch for Americans who do n't understand this dynamic in terms of who we should see as really calling the shots here ?
WHITEHOUSE : Well , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want conservative judges .
Democrats want liberal judges .
Both of them like to quarrel about it , and to hell with both of them .
But the fact of the matter is that a small group of very big donor interests powered up by Citizens United dark money -- this is a new one since Citizens United -- has now the power to pull strings and to drive behavior , and they 've determined that they want to control the court because the court , as Senator Warren said , will do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment will do things that legislators would never vote for , like , for instance , unlimited money into politics from corporations .
Nobody would vote for that .
Control the court and they deliver it .
At this point they 're up to 80 of these partisan 5-4 decisions under Roberts , and we 've looked at the worst ones , but we 've missed the pattern .
There 's a pattern here , and there is an organization behind it .
And if we do n't take that on , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MADDOW : Rhode Island US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse , member of the Judiciary Committee , you are going to be right in the heart of this fight , sir .

Why are Republicans dead set on packing the Supreme Court with right-wing extremist idealogues? Not because they give a damn about abortion or so-called religious liberty. Not because they have some loyalty to "conservative values" expressed as some noble concern. Simply put, they're doing it because their billionaire masters command it, and their billionaires are interested in keeping their money and supremacy. No more, no less.
In this segment with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, he lays out the threat the dark money boys pose, as he told Rachel Maddow on Monday night. "Why all the hypocrisy? Why all the mendacity? Why has Mitch McConnell eliminated legislation in the Senate? Why all of the secrecy, all the attacks?" Whitehouse asked.
"I think that it points to the operation that has been run for some time, that unfortunately we as Democrats have not paid enough attention to, that is driving this behavior," he continued. "The biggest donors behind the Republican Party want to control the court, and they want that more than anything else. That's why they stuck with Kavanaugh through his troubles. That's why they blew out Garland for Gorsuch."
And who are those biggest donors? The usual suspects: Koch, Adelson, DeVos, Singer, Mercer, and more. ExxonMobil, fracking interests, pharmaceuticals, and so on.
This is not about abortion. It's about money, and corporate control of the nation.
Transcript follows in full:
RACHEL MADDOW: ...It seems like Republican senators writ large have no compunction whatsoever about going back on their own word on this. How do you move forward in a circumstance where that's how your colleagues are treating this? Joining us now is Rhode Island's US Senator, member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Thanks for making time to be here tonight.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE: Glad to be with you.
MADDOW: So hypocrisy is like vitamin H right now in politics, and it seems like people are trying to overdose on it. Republicans do not seem at all bothered about being called hypocrites and demonstrating hypocrisy in terms of their previous stated principles here. How does that affect how you and your colleagues are going to approach this fight?
WHITEHOUSE: Well, I hope we think of it as a clue. Why all the hypocrisy? Why all the mendacity? Why has Mitch McConnell eliminated legislation in the Senate? Why all of the secrecy, all the attacks? I think that it points to the operation that has been run for some time, that unfortunately we as Democrats have not paid enough attention to, that is driving this behavior. The biggest donors behind the Republican Party want to control the court, and they want that more than anything else. That's why they stuck with Kavanaugh through his troubles. That's why they blew out Garland for Gorsuch.
And behind all of this is a fair amount of reporting about hundreds of millions of dollars being spent and phony front groups being set up, all the earmarks of a covert operation, except that it's being run against our own government.
So focusing on that, I think ought to give us some leverage and ought to help clue in the American public to what's really going on here.
These aren't colleagues who are just doing this because it's their nature. They're doing it because of pressure, and we need to respond to that and out this group that is behind all this mischief.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Old White Republican Dude Wants Liberals To Make Nice After GOP Destroys Republic

David French is a white male conservative attorney who has written a book asking us all to just get along now that conservative Republicans have destroyed the republic .
Is n't that precious ?
He joined Brianna Keilar to make his case .
She asked in light of what is sure to be a brutal nomination fight that racist , misogynistic , fascist white supremacists will win for the Supreme Court seat , does the `` cracking '' French sees in our society likely end in a civil war ?
French assures her , in his most weasly , gentle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no ... nothing that serious ... but maybe just a divorce .
FRENCH : No , I do n't think -- in my book I do n't write that we 're on the verge of a civil war .
What I 'm more worried about is if we keep hating each other , and if we keep increasing the polarization it is something more like a strained and fractured marriage that could end in divorce .
And what I point out in my book is we are now in a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like-minded communities , and then when like-minded communities gather together , they often get more extreme .
And all the data is out there about the increasing hatred and enmity that Americans have for people across the ideological lines , and you see that spill out in politics , you see it spill out sometimes in the streets , and we 're we 're going to see it spill out in the intensity of this judicial nomination fight , and every side escalates .
Every time we have an opportunity to choose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalate ?
We are escalating continually , and I want people to realize you can not keep growing apart as a country and presume that everything 's going to be okay .
Wait , let me sit down from this groundbreaking line of thought .
We have NEVER EVER had a white man breeze in to opine on how people who have been systemically oppressed by white men who look JUST LIKE HIM should just give him a chance after he has torn their communities apart with their genocidal policies !
THIS IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Truly , where has this man been in all our darkest days ?
If only marginalized folks would be willing to move into the richer , well-funded , all-white communities populated by cis-het Christian pale people , things would get so much better !
Why have n't Black people thought to TRY this ?
Why do n't immigrants move directly to Park Avenue ?
Why are n't gay families moving in droves to small towns in Montana ?
This is genius , and I can not believe these marginalized groups have never thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd be welcomed with open arms and zero barriers , right ?
Especially not legal barriers !
He obviously only watches Fox News , where it 's a rainbow of skin shades and nationalities , not to mention a welcoming atmosphere for a variety of viewpoints and a bastion of civility !
But wait !
There 's more !
Brianna Keilar asked him how our nation 's standing with the rest of the world has suffered as a result of our impending `` divorce . ''
FRENCH : Obviously if you look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look the rhetoric in American politics , if we saw that in another country we would say that 's a country in distress , that is a country that is unacceptably divided , that 's a country in at least some degree of danger .
But we 've grown increasingly accustomed to this punch them in the mouth style of politics without really understanding what that 's doing to us as a people and one of the reasons why I wrote the book is I want people to say , wait a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next partisan punch is not worth the cost to the country .
[ ... ] And that is especially , I come from , I 'm a conservative , I grew up in red America and this is a dynamic that I see on the right side of the aisle all around me and any attempt at reconciliation is scorned as weakness and the punch is applauded as strength and if we keep going in that cycle that 's terrible consequences for our culture and country .
You know what , Frenchie ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rat 's ass what Europe would think of us if we liberals punched your sorry faces into the pavement .
The ones who matter would applaud .
Talking to YOUR side of the aisle .
Talk to Tucker Carlson .
Talk to Sean Hannity .
Talk to Laura Ingraham .
The ones who think a woman has no right to determine if she has sex or gets or stays pregnant .
The ones who believe Black people are inferior , and that police are right to target them from the time they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think businesses have a religious right to refuse service to gay people , and our government should cage children .
THEY are the ones who need to make amends .
THEY are the ones who need to reconcile .
THEY are the ones punching down .
Not us .
Sometimes , divorce is in the best interest of everyone involved .
Especially the children .

Awwww.
David French is a white male conservative attorney who has written a book asking us all to just get along now that conservative Republicans have destroyed the republic. Isn't that precious?
He joined Brianna Keilar to make his case. She asked in light of what is sure to be a brutal nomination fight that racist, misogynistic, fascist white supremacists will win for the Supreme Court seat, does the "cracking" French sees in our society likely end in a civil war? French assures her, in his most weasly, gentle channeling of Susan Collins' concerned voice that no...nothing that serious...but maybe just a divorce.
FRENCH: No, I don't think -- in my book I don't write that we're on the verge of a civil war. What I'm more worried about is if we keep hating each other, and if we keep increasing the polarization it is something more like a strained and fractured marriage that could end in divorce. And what I point out in my book is we are now in a place where a lot of Americans live clustered in like-minded communities, and then when like-minded communities gather together, they often get more extreme. And all the data is out there about the increasing hatred and enmity that Americans have for people across the ideological lines, and you see that spill out in politics, you see it spill out sometimes in the streets, and we're we're going to see it spill out in the intensity of this judicial nomination fight, and every side escalates. Every time we have an opportunity to choose, do we de-escalate or or do we escalate? We are escalating continually, and I want people to realize you cannot keep growing apart as a country and presume that everything's going to be okay.
Wait, let me sit down from this groundbreaking line of thought. We have NEVER EVER had a white man breeze in to opine on how people who have been systemically oppressed by white men who look JUST LIKE HIM should just give him a chance after he has torn their communities apart with their genocidal policies! THIS IS BRAND NEW, PEOPLE!!!
Truly, where has this man been in all our darkest days? If only marginalized folks would be willing to move into the richer, well-funded, all-white communities populated by cis-het Christian pale people, things would get so much better! Why haven't Black people thought to TRY this? Why don't immigrants move directly to Park Avenue? Why aren't gay families moving in droves to small towns in Montana? This is genius, and I cannot believe these marginalized groups have never thought to integrate themselves! Surely, they'd be welcomed with open arms and zero barriers, right? Especially not legal barriers! He obviously only watches Fox News, where it's a rainbow of skin shades and nationalities, not to mention a welcoming atmosphere for a variety of viewpoints and a bastion of civility!
But wait! There's more! Brianna Keilar asked him how our nation's standing with the rest of the world has suffered as a result of our impending "divorce."
FRENCH: Obviously if you look at the scenes in American streets, if you look the rhetoric in American politics, if we saw that in another country we would say that's a country in distress, that is a country that is unacceptably divided, that's a country in at least some degree of danger. But we've grown increasingly accustomed to this punch them in the mouth style of politics without really understanding what that's doing to us as a people and one of the reasons why I wrote the book is I want people to say, wait a minute, maybe winning, throwing that next partisan punch is not worth the cost to the country.
[...]
And that is especially, I come from, I'm a conservative, I grew up in red America and this is a dynamic that I see on the right side of the aisle all around me and any attempt at reconciliation is scorned as weakness and the punch is applauded as strength and if we keep going in that cycle that's terrible consequences for our culture and country.
You know what, Frenchie? I couldn't give a hemorrhoid on a rat's ass what Europe would think of us if we liberals punched your sorry faces into the pavement. The ones who matter would applaud. Talk to YOUR side of the aisle. Talk to Tucker Carlson. Talk to Sean Hannity. Talk to Laura Ingraham. The ones who think a woman has no right to determine if she has sex or gets or stays pregnant. The ones who believe Black people are inferior, and that police are right to target them from the time they're in pre-school. The ones who think businesses have a religious right to refuse service to gay people, and our government should cage children. THEY are the ones who need to make amends. THEY are the ones who need to reconcile. THEY are the ones punching down. Not us.
Sometimes, divorce is in the best interest of everyone involved. Especially the children.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Time For Senate Dems To Gum Up McConnell's Plans For Supreme Court

Ed .
note : The video above is Ezra Levin explaining how the same tactics used to stop the Senate from repealing Obamacare can help with the Senate push to confirm Trump 's SCOTUS pick for Ginsburg 's seat .
Here we are again , figuring out what a Senate minority of Democrats can do to gum up the works and force a delay/derailment of Mitch McConnell 's juggernaut of a Supreme Court appointment .
When we last faced this , it was `` Lock down 49 and fight like hell . ''
Now Democrats have 47 , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way , came from former Harry Reid staffer Adam Jentleson , who is like his former boss in understanding how to use procedure .
He 's back again this time , with some advice for this moment , with `` steps Democrats can take to apply maximum pressure , brand the process as the illegitimate farce it is and lay the groundwork for desperately needed reform that can reverse the damage early in 2021 if Democrats win in November . ''
Here 's the first whisper of a chance Democrats are listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start gumming up the works .
The rule says that committees ca n't meet if the Senate has been in session for two hours .
The rule is routinely waived .
Someone will come on the floor “ I request unanimous consent for committees to meet during today ’ s session , '' and unanimous consent ( UC ) is usually given .
Not today .
That 's a start .
Gum up the works and stop agreeing to UC requests .
It takes someone being on the floor or ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , but having one person stationed on the floor at all times is n't that difficult .
They can rotate the duty .
It would force Republicans to have to work to get meetings on the schedule and just make it harder .
They can up the headache quotient by making 51 Republicans—at least half a dozen of whom need to be spending most of their time on their reelections—have to be at the Capitol every day .
Democrats can vote `` no '' on all of the motions to proceed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First they have person designated to holding the floor say `` no '' to a UC to go into executive session , then all vote `` no '' on the resulting motion to proceed .
That means 51 Republicans have to show up to vote and it means a lot of time is eaten up .
They achieve that as well by denying quorums .
Before the Senate can do anything , legislation , amendment , nominations , there has to be a quorum of a simple majority—51 votes .
Democrats can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be on hand .
Every .
Single .
Day .
They can make Republicans be in the Senate chamber and having to stay there , keeping them from raising money with phone calls and fundraisers .
Senate Democrats , as long as they have the one person there to deny UC requests , can spend their time on their reelections .
The fun thing is , Democrats can also suggest the absence of a quorum as many times a day as they feel like , and then sometimes show up for quorum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they suggest the absence of a quorum and then Republicans ca n't round up the 51 senators at a time they need to have one , they have to adjourn .
The Senate does n't continue work that day .
They can also eat up lots and lots of hours by forcing a debate .
On everything .
Anytime a Republican comes to the floor to talk about anything—and every week they do this with their pet issues—have a Democrat there to ask them to yield to a question .
Be there every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time '' to lie about Democrats to challenge him .
To ask him yield to a question , and them force him to answer questions about coronavirus and why they have n't passed a bill to help Americans ; about pushing for a Supreme Court nominee that will take away Americans ' healthcare when he has no replacement bill in place ; about everything and anything that they want to .
Just mess with him on the floor and eat up time .
And here 's a big one that will go against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confirmation hearings .
They 'll want to be there to score points on television , but their absence wo n't change the outcome of the hearings at all—Trump and McConnell already have all the votes they need and the nominee has n't even been named yet !
But it will highlight the illegitimacy , the irregularity , and the lack of simple democracy in the proceedings .
As Jentleson says , `` Attending confers legitimacy , and refusing to attend will send a powerful statement that they deem the process and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he points out , not letting the Senate proceed as normally , not letting the hearings proceed as if they were normal , `` will brand it as fundamentally different from anything that has come before . ''
That means the traditional media ca n't report it as `` a partisan squabble , '' `` both sides digging in , '' and all the other tropes they fall into automatically when reporting on contentious issues .
They 'll have to work harder to report on it and they 'll have to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For the next six weeks , that 's what they need to do to try to stop this nomination from getting to the floor .
The landscape will have changed in unpredictable ways after the lame duck session—a big loss of Republicans could make some of those looking ahead to tough races in 2022 think twice about going forward with it .
Which is one reason McConnell might try to rush the vote before the election , and just one more reason why Democrats should deploy every possible tactic to stop it @

Ed. note: The video above is Ezra Levin explaining how the same tactics used to stop the Senate from repealing Obamacare can help with the Senate push to confirm Trump's SCOTUS pick for Ginsburg's seat.
Here we are again, figuring out what a Senate minority of Democrats can do to gum up the works and force a delay/derailment of Mitch McConnell's juggernaut of a Supreme Court appointment. When we last faced this, it was "Lock down 49 and fight like hell." Now Democrats have 47, but the argument remains. That argument, by the way, came from former Harry Reid staffer Adam Jentleson, who is like his former boss in understanding how to use procedure. He's back again this time, with some advice for this moment, with "steps Democrats can take to apply maximum pressure, brand the process as the illegitimate farce it is and lay the groundwork for desperately needed reform that can reverse the damage early in 2021 if Democrats win in November."
Here's the first whisper of a chance Democrats are listening and using the tools they have available to start gumming up the works.
Senate hearings were just postponed for this afternoon. Two-hour rule may have been invoked by Democrats preventing Senate cmtes from meeting 2hrs after Senate came into session (convened at 10am) or in this case past 2pm w/o unanimous consent agreed to by GOP & Democratic ldrs. — Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) September 22, 2020
The rule says that committees can't meet if the Senate has been in session for two hours. The rule is routinely waived. Someone will come on the floor “I request unanimous consent for committees to meet during today’s session," and unanimous consent (UC) is usually given. Not today. That's a start. Gum up the works and stop agreeing to UC requests. It takes someone being on the floor or ready to go to the floor at any given moment, but having one person stationed on the floor at all times isn't that difficult. They can rotate the duty. It would force Republicans to have to work to get meetings on the schedule and just make it harder.
They can up the headache quotient by making 51 Republicans—at least half a dozen of whom need to be spending most of their time on their reelections—have to be at the Capitol every day. Democrats can vote "no" on all of the motions to proceed to executive session, when nominations are considered. First they have person designated to holding the floor say "no" to a UC to go into executive session, then all vote "no" on the resulting motion to proceed. That means 51 Republicans have to show up to vote and it means a lot of time is eaten up.
They achieve that as well by denying quorums. Before the Senate can do anything, legislation, amendment, nominations, there has to be a quorum of a simple majority—51 votes. Democrats can make 51 of the 53 Republicans have to be on hand. Every. Single. Day. They can make Republicans be in the Senate chamber and having to stay there, keeping them from raising money with phone calls and fundraisers. Senate Democrats, as long as they have the one person there to deny UC requests, can spend their time on their reelections. The fun thing is, Democrats can also suggest the absence of a quorum as many times a day as they feel like, and then sometimes show up for quorum calls, and sometimes not. If they suggest the absence of a quorum and then Republicans can't round up the 51 senators at a time they need to have one, they have to adjourn. The Senate doesn't continue work that day.
They can also eat up lots and lots of hours by forcing a debate. On everything. Anytime a Republican comes to the floor to talk about anything—and every week they do this with their pet issues—have a Democrat there to ask them to yield to a question. Be there every morning when McConnell uses his "leader time" to lie about Democrats to challenge him. To ask him yield to a question, and them force him to answer questions about coronavirus and why they haven't passed a bill to help Americans; about pushing for a Supreme Court nominee that will take away Americans' healthcare when he has no replacement bill in place; about everything and anything that they want to. Just mess with him on the floor and eat up time.
And here's a big one that will go against their grain: Democrats need to boycott the confirmation hearings. They'll want to be there to score points on television, but their absence won't change the outcome of the hearings at all—Trump and McConnell already have all the votes they need and the nominee hasn't even been named yet! But it will highlight the illegitimacy, the irregularity, and the lack of simple democracy in the proceedings. As Jentleson says, "Attending confers legitimacy, and refusing to attend will send a powerful statement that they deem the process and the nominee illegitimate."
Furthermore, as he points out, not letting the Senate proceed as normally, not letting the hearings proceed as if they were normal, " will brand it as fundamentally different from anything that has come before." That means the traditional media can't report it as "a partisan squabble," "both sides digging in," and all the other tropes they fall into automatically when reporting on contentious issues. They'll have to work harder to report on it and they'll have to talk to Democrats about why they're doing this.
For the next six weeks, that's what they need to do to try to stop this nomination from getting to the floor. The landscape will have changed in unpredictable ways after the lame duck session—a big loss of Republicans could make some of those looking ahead to tough races in 2022 think twice about going forward with it. Which is one reason McConnell might try to rush the vote before the election, and just one more reason why Democrats should deploy every possible tactic to stop it.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--As U.S. Tops 200,000 Dead From COVID, Trump Claims The Virus 'Affects Virtually Nobody'

During Trump 's campaign rally in Ohio on Monday , he told his fawning minions that only the very elderly @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and that it `` affects virtually nobody . ''
And you wonder why @ @ @ @ @ throughout the United States .
It 's the MAGA idiots attending these super-spreader events .
@ @ @ @ @ affects elderly people , '' Trump said .
He exalted the young and their immune @ @ @ @ @ sick from the virus .
He left out the fact that they can transmit the @ @ @ @ @ in contact with .
Trump continued , `` But it affects virtually nobody -- it @ @ @ @ @ -- By the way , open your schools everybody , open your schools . ''
@ @ @ @ @ denigrating facts and the CDC 's warnings about the pandemic .
He 's claiming it @ @ @ @ @ sick old people , and trying to force kids to go back to school in @ @ @ @ @ the good of himself .

During Trump's campaign rally in Ohio on Monday, he told his fawning minions that only the very elderly get sick and die from the coronavirus and that it "affects virtually nobody."
And you wonder why the virus is still spreading throughout the United States.
It's the MAGA idiots attending these super-spreader events.
"Now we know it affects elderly people," Trump said.
He exalted the young and their immune systems for not getting as sick from the virus. He left out the fact that they can transmit the virus to others they come in contact with.
Trump continued, "But it affects virtually nobody -- it's an amazing thing. -- By the way, open your schools everybody, open your schools."
This narcissist is once again denigrating facts and the CDC's warnings about the pandemic.
He's claiming it's only dangerous to very sick old people, and trying to force kids to go back to school in unprotected environments, all for the good of himself.
He's a mass murderer on an epic scale.
200,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the US. That's more than the US battle deaths from 5 wars combinedhttps://t.co/tw2at7aN8A — Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) September 22, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Republicans Have Long Endorsed Statehood For Puerto Rico

[ Above : Three former Republican presidents , Ford , Reagan , and George HW Bush , in ads in support of statehood for Puerto Rico , 1993 .
Details here . ]
Republicans flipping out over Puerto Rico becoming a state have forgotten ( of course ) their party platforms and past presidents : President Gerald Ford proposed statehood in 1976 : `` I believe that the appropriate status for Puerto Rico is statehood .
I propose , therefore , that the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of the United States begin now to take those steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rico .
I will recommend to the 95th Congress the enactment of legislation providing for the admission of Puerto Rico as a State of the Union . ''
President Ronald Reagan favored statehood : `` I favor statehood for Puerto Rico and if the people of Puerto Rico vote for statehood in their coming referendum I would , as President , initiate the enabling legislation to make this a reality . ''
President George H. W. Bush raised the issue of statehood before Congress in his first State of the Union message in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve decided to mention here tonight .
I ’ ve long believed that the people of Puerto Rico should have the right to determine their own political future .
Personally , I strongly favor statehood .
But I urge the Congress to take the necessary steps to allow the people to decide in a referendum . ''
The Republican Party platforms of 2008 , 2012 and 2016 also endorsed statehood for Puerto Rico .
Of course , 2016 was the last platform the Republican Party has had , since this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` go Trump . ''

[Above: Three former Republican presidents, Ford, Reagan, and George HW Bush, in ads in support of statehood for Puerto Rico, 1993. Details here.]
Republicans flipping out over Puerto Rico becoming a state have forgotten (of course) their party platforms and past presidents:
President Gerald Ford proposed statehood in 1976: "I believe that the appropriate status for Puerto Rico is statehood. I propose, therefore, that the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of the United States begin now to take those steps which will result in statehood for Puerto Rico. I will recommend to the 95th Congress the enactment of legislation providing for the admission of Puerto Rico as a State of the Union." President Ronald Reagan favored statehood: "I favor statehood for Puerto Rico and if the people of Puerto Rico vote for statehood in their coming referendum I would, as President, initiate the enabling legislation to make this a reality." President George H. W. Bush raised the issue of statehood before Congress in his first State of the Union message in 1989: "There's another issue that I’ve decided to mention here tonight. I’ve long believed that the people of Puerto Rico should have the right to determine their own political future. Personally, I strongly favor statehood. But I urge the Congress to take the necessary steps to allow the people to decide in a referendum."
The Republican Party platforms of 2008, 2012 and 2016 also endorsed statehood for Puerto Rico. Of course, 2016 was the last platform the Republican Party has had, since this year all they had to say was "go Trump."
2020 Republican Platform: No balanced budget. No deficit reduction. No national security. No energy policy. No foreign policy. No healthcare policy. No economic policy.
Just Trump. — Steve Garland (@SteveGarland6) September 17, 2020
Puerto Rican statehood was literally written in both parties platforms yet Republicans balked because of their own ambition and power despite the fact there is no guarantee the island would even be democratic. — Badger 1848 (@LacDuMichigan) September 16, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Whoa, Prosecutors Want To Seize Steve Bannon's Assets And Bank Records

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom .
Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox .
Near the end of a lengthy indictment detailing fraud allegations against Stephen Bannon , former Donald Trump campaign CEO and chief strategist and his associates , federal prosecutors reveal that they intend to seize the assets of a murky nonprofit organization Bannon launched in 2017 to promote “ economic nationalism.
” The group is Citizens of the American Republic , a California-based nonprofit that serves as a platform for Bannon ’ s films and podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throughout the 24-page indictment , the group appears to be referenced as “ Non-Profit-1 ” in a scheme in which Bannon and his partners were allegedly looting a crowdsourced charity , We Build the Wall , for personal gain .
The indictment never outright states that “ Non-Profit-1 ” is Citizens of the American Republic , but it describes it as an “ organization founded by [ Bannon ] with the stated purpose of promoting economic nationalism and American sovereignty , ” which closely matches the nonprofit ’ s own stated aims .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ received over $ 1 million through the scheme and funneled part of it to Brian Kolfage , the military veteran who raised money to build a privately funded wall to help Trump block off the southern border .
The document also sheds light on an oblique financial trail linking a loose-knit group of private businesses and nonprofit organizations politically aligned with Trump .
In addition to Bannon ’ s nonprofit and We Build the Wall , federal investigators are moving to seize assets from four other entities , including two affiliated with Kolfage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom Daily that operated out of Florida and America First Medical , a medical supplies company Kolfage formed in Wyoming to sell masks in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic .
U.S. rules allowing so-called dark money groups like Bannon ’ s to hide the identity of their donors helps them maintain a shroud of secrecy , which is only partially pierced by a criminal indictment and the subpoena power of investigators .
“ The only reason any of this is coming to light is it turns out that the money that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the promised purposes and instead it was used to enrich someone , ” said Daniel Weiner , deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice ’ s Election Reform Program .
“ The secrecy , at least for the people who helped design the system , is a feature not a bug.
” Kolfage told Reuters in 2019 that he had earned seven figures through creating and selling conservative websites like Freedom Daily .
Bannon played a critical role in helping Kolfage set up We Build the Wall Inc. after GoFundMe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accumulated millions in donations from supporters , the indictment charges .
GoFundMe demanded that Kolfage set up a legitimate nonprofit to accept donations .
The effort ultimately raised over $ 25 million after promising — falsely , the indictment alleges — that the donations would not benefit Kolfage .
That “ removes all self-interest taint ” and gives “ Brian Kolfage saint hood , ” stated Andrew Badolato , a longtime Bannon associate who was also indicted , in a text to Bannon that prosecutors quoted .
Badolato and his lawyer did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bannon promoted the wall effort on his podcast “ War Room : Pandemic ” as recently as Wednesday , when he had Kolfage on to discuss the situation at the border .
“ You ’ ve been the leader of this , assisting President Trump in building this wall in these tough areas , ” Bannon said to Kolfage .
Bannon was arrested on Thursday by federal agents in Connecticut while on board a superyacht owned by wealthy Chinese businessman Guo Wengui .
Guo also allowed Bannon to use his private jet to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , an arrangement that experts said could run afoul of campaign finance laws banning foreign donations .
Bannon and his lawyers did not return emails from ProPublica requesting comment .
He told reporters after posting bond that the indictment was a “ fiasco ” to “ stop people who want to build the wall.
” On Friday , Kolfage wrote on his Facebook page that the indictment is a “ witch hunt ” and the work of a “ weaponized judicial system ” trying to take down Trump insiders .
Kolfage did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment after the indictment .
On Thursday , Trump continued to distance himself from We Build the Wall , telling reporters that he thought “ it was done for showboating reasons ” and that he didn ’ t know that Bannon was linked to the group .
A spokesperson for Trump told Fox News that the president did not know the other people involved with the project .
Citizens of the American Republic raised around $ 4.5 million in 2018 , according to its tax filings , most of which came through six- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of donors , whose names are not disclosed .
A single donor gave $ 2 million .
The group ’ s purpose is to “ educate the American people ” about issues including “ economic nationalism , ” “ social policy and respect for traditional American values ” and “ America First foreign policy , ” among other issues , according to the filing .
The group ’ s first filings , for the 2017 tax year , show no donations to the nonprofit .
The 2018 tax filings show transactions that occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal indictment .
As a “ social welfare ” nonprofit organized under section 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) of the Internal Revenue Code , the organization is not required to disclose its donors .
The contact number listed on the group ’ s tax forms belongs to its accountant , Robert Watkins , who did not return a message requesting comment .
The organization made just $ 15,000 in grants in 2018 .
The filings show $ 250,000 in loans and payments to Bannon ’ s film company and $ 40,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sean .
Bannon is the group ’ s president and is described as working 80 hours a week for the group with no salary .
His sister Mary E. Meredith , who is vice president , earned $ 20,000 for her 40 hours per week of work .
Meredith did not respond to messages requesting comment .
Other top officials are Dan Fleuette , a longtime Bannon associate , and lawyer Cleta Mitchell .
Fleuette did not respond to a LinkedIn message requesting an interview .
Mitchell has served on the boards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Rifle Association and the Committee to Unleash Prosperity , led by Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore .
She declined an interview request .
The filings show more than $ 1.1 million flowing out of the nonprofit to various large vendors , although the nature of their work is unclear .
Nearly $ 850,000 went toward travel , and more than $ 1.4 million to “ conferences , conventions and meetings.
” The filing says that Citizens of the American Republic funded two Bannon documentaries , about the 2016 campaign and Chinese President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
In 2018 , Citizens of the American Republic paid nearly $ 144,000 to a company called Platinum Advertising Corporation for “ websites/social media.
” The address given for Platinum Advertising in the filing , 30 N. Gould St. , Suite R , in Sheridan , Wyoming , is the same address as the medical supplies company Kolfage formed , America First Medical .
Wyoming has particularly lax business transparency laws , and Platinum Advertising appears to be a shell corporation .
Its secretary is listed in state filings as Gerald Pitts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corporate Services , which specializes in incorporating businesses to shield assets from taxation or disclosure .
A 2011 investigation by Reuters found that Pitts was listed as “ a director , president or principal for at least 41 companies ” registered at a single address in Wyoming .
Pitts did not respond to an email requesting comment .
A second company paid by Citizens of the American Republic , Fortress FM , received more than $ 191,000 in 2018 for “ security , logistics , and training.
” The company address listed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box in Cheyenne , Wyoming , that is also used by a firm of accountants , Kercher-Jarrett LLC .
T. Gary Kercher and Wayne Jarrett , who are listed on Kercher-Jarrett LLC ’ s business filings , did not respond to messages requesting comment .
One of the charges Bannon is facing is that of conspiring to commit money laundering .
The 2018 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment , prepared by the departments of Treasury , Justice and Homeland Security and U.S. regulatory agencies , noted the risks presented by a lax approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with which companies can be incorporated under state law , and how little information is generally required about the company ’ s owners or activities , raises concerns about a lack of transparency , ” the report said .
Kolfage worked with Fisher Industries , a North Dakota-based construction firm , to help build the two border fences .
We Build the Wall funded the construction of one stretch of border fence in New Mexico , near El Paso , Texas , and contributed 5 % of funds for Fisher to build a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Rio Grande south of Mission , Texas .
A ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigation found that the Rio Grande Valley project suffered from major erosion just months after it was finished .
Engineers warned that could result in segments of the fence toppling into the river if not fixed .
Fisher Industries ’ CEO has dismissed the concerns and said that he will fix any problems .
Despite criticism of the wall-building project from the president , his administration has awarded Tommy Fisher , CEO of Fisher Industries , about $ 2 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the border wall for the government — at least two of them while a federal audit over concerns of “ inappropriate influence ” by the president is pending .
Fisher ’ s attorney told ProPublica and the Tribune that his client has not received any other money beyond the construction funding provided and has no other business with We Build the Wall .

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Near the end of a lengthy indictment detailing fraud allegations against Stephen Bannon, former Donald Trump campaign CEO and chief strategist and his associates, federal prosecutors reveal that they intend to seize the assets of a murky nonprofit organization Bannon launched in 2017 to promote “economic nationalism.”
The group is Citizens of the American Republic, a California-based nonprofit that serves as a platform for Bannon’s films and podcasts that promote Trump’s ideology. Throughout the 24-page indictment, the group appears to be referenced as “Non-Profit-1” in a scheme in which Bannon and his partners were allegedly looting a crowdsourced charity, We Build the Wall, for personal gain. The indictment never outright states that “Non-Profit-1” is Citizens of the American Republic, but it describes it as an “organization founded by [Bannon] with the stated purpose of promoting economic nationalism and American sovereignty,” which closely matches the nonprofit’s own stated aims.
The indictment alleges that “Non-Profit-1” received over $1 million through the scheme and funneled part of it to Brian Kolfage, the military veteran who raised money to build a privately funded wall to help Trump block off the southern border.
The document also sheds light on an oblique financial trail linking a loose-knit group of private businesses and nonprofit organizations politically aligned with Trump. In addition to Bannon’s nonprofit and We Build the Wall, federal investigators are moving to seize assets from four other entities, including two affiliated with Kolfage — a defunct right-wing news site called Freedom Daily that operated out of Florida and America First Medical, a medical supplies company Kolfage formed in Wyoming to sell masks in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. rules allowing so-called dark money groups like Bannon’s to hide the identity of their donors helps them maintain a shroud of secrecy, which is only partially pierced by a criminal indictment and the subpoena power of investigators.
“The only reason any of this is coming to light is it turns out that the money that was being collected wasn’t necessarily used for the promised purposes and instead it was used to enrich someone,” said Daniel Weiner, deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Election Reform Program. “The secrecy, at least for the people who helped design the system, is a feature not a bug.”
Kolfage told Reuters in 2019 that he had earned seven figures through creating and selling conservative websites like Freedom Daily.
Bannon played a critical role in helping Kolfage set up We Build the Wall Inc. after GoFundMe, the crowdfunding platform he had been using, accumulated millions in donations from supporters, the indictment charges. GoFundMe demanded that Kolfage set up a legitimate nonprofit to accept donations. The effort ultimately raised over $25 million after promising — falsely, the indictment alleges — that the donations would not benefit Kolfage.
That “removes all self-interest taint” and gives “Brian Kolfage saint hood,” stated Andrew Badolato, a longtime Bannon associate who was also indicted, in a text to Bannon that prosecutors quoted. Badolato and his lawyer did not respond to emails requesting comment.
Bannon promoted the wall effort on his podcast “War Room: Pandemic” as recently as Wednesday, when he had Kolfage on to discuss the situation at the border.
“You’ve been the leader of this, assisting President Trump in building this wall in these tough areas,” Bannon said to Kolfage.
Bannon was arrested on Thursday by federal agents in Connecticut while on board a superyacht owned by wealthy Chinese businessman Guo Wengui. Guo also allowed Bannon to use his private jet to fly around promoting Republican congressional candidates in 2018, an arrangement that experts said could run afoul of campaign finance laws banning foreign donations.
Bannon and his lawyers did not return emails from ProPublica requesting comment. He told reporters after posting bond that the indictment was a “fiasco” to “stop people who want to build the wall.” On Friday, Kolfage wrote on his Facebook page that the indictment is a “witch hunt” and the work of a “weaponized judicial system” trying to take down Trump insiders.
Kolfage did not return an email from ProPublica for comment after the indictment. On Thursday, Trump continued to distance himself from We Build the Wall, telling reporters that he thought “it was done for showboating reasons” and that he didn’t know that Bannon was linked to the group. A spokesperson for Trump told Fox News that the president did not know the other people involved with the project.
Citizens of the American Republic raised around $4.5 million in 2018, according to its tax filings, most of which came through six- and seven-figure donations from just a handful of donors, whose names are not disclosed. A single donor gave $2 million. The group’s purpose is to “educate the American people” about issues including “economic nationalism,” “social policy and respect for traditional American values” and “America First foreign policy,” among other issues, according to the filing.
The group’s first filings, for the 2017 tax year, show no donations to the nonprofit. The 2018 tax filings show transactions that occurred prior to the timeline covered in the federal indictment.
As a “social welfare” nonprofit organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, the organization is not required to disclose its donors. The contact number listed on the group’s tax forms belongs to its accountant, Robert Watkins, who did not return a message requesting comment.
The organization made just $15,000 in grants in 2018. The filings show $250,000 in loans and payments to Bannon’s film company and $40,000 in payments to Bannon’s nephew, Sean.
Bannon is the group’s president and is described as working 80 hours a week for the group with no salary. His sister Mary E. Meredith, who is vice president, earned $20,000 for her 40 hours per week of work. Meredith did not respond to messages requesting comment. Other top officials are Dan Fleuette, a longtime Bannon associate, and lawyer Cleta Mitchell. Fleuette did not respond to a LinkedIn message requesting an interview.
Mitchell has served on the boards of several right-leaning nonprofits, including the National Rifle Association and the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, led by Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore. She declined an interview request.
The filings show more than $1.1 million flowing out of the nonprofit to various large vendors, although the nature of their work is unclear. Nearly $850,000 went toward travel, and more than $1.4 million to “conferences, conventions and meetings.” The filing says that Citizens of the American Republic funded two Bannon documentaries, about the 2016 campaign and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and paid for promoting them.
In 2018, Citizens of the American Republic paid nearly $144,000 to a company called Platinum Advertising Corporation for “websites/social media.” The address given for Platinum Advertising in the filing, 30 N. Gould St., Suite R, in Sheridan, Wyoming, is the same address as the medical supplies company Kolfage formed, America First Medical.
Wyoming has particularly lax business transparency laws, and Platinum Advertising appears to be a shell corporation. Its secretary is listed in state filings as Gerald Pitts, the founder and president of Wyoming Corporate Services, which specializes in incorporating businesses to shield assets from taxation or disclosure. A 2011 investigation by Reuters found that Pitts was listed as “a director, president or principal for at least 41 companies” registered at a single address in Wyoming.
Pitts did not respond to an email requesting comment.
A second company paid by Citizens of the American Republic, Fortress FM, received more than $191,000 in 2018 for “security, logistics, and training.” The company address listed on the 2018 filing is a post office box in Cheyenne, Wyoming, that is also used by a firm of accountants, Kercher-Jarrett LLC.
T. Gary Kercher and Wayne Jarrett, who are listed on Kercher-Jarrett LLC’s business filings, did not respond to messages requesting comment.
One of the charges Bannon is facing is that of conspiring to commit money laundering. The 2018 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment, prepared by the departments of Treasury, Justice and Homeland Security and U.S. regulatory agencies, noted the risks presented by a lax approach to shell corporations.
“The ease with which companies can be incorporated under state law, and how little information is generally required about the company’s owners or activities, raises concerns about a lack of transparency,” the report said.
Kolfage worked with Fisher Industries, a North Dakota-based construction firm, to help build the two border fences. We Build the Wall funded the construction of one stretch of border fence in New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas, and contributed 5% of funds for Fisher to build a $42 million fence along the banks of the Rio Grande south of Mission, Texas.
A ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigation found that the Rio Grande Valley project suffered from major erosion just months after it was finished. Engineers warned that could result in segments of the fence toppling into the river if not fixed. Fisher Industries’ CEO has dismissed the concerns and said that he will fix any problems.
Despite criticism of the wall-building project from the president, his administration has awarded Tommy Fisher, CEO of Fisher Industries, about $2 billion worth of federal contracts to build segments of the border wall for the government — at least two of them while a federal audit over concerns of “inappropriate influence” by the president is pending.
Fisher’s attorney told ProPublica and the Tribune that his client has not received any other money beyond the construction funding provided and has no other business with We Build the Wall.


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Mitt Romney Will Vote For Trump's SCOTUS Nominee

The Republican who voted yes on removing Trump from office is just fine with that impeached so-called president stacking the @ @ @ @ @ Romney 's decision provides the votes needed to move ahead with the process to fill @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the @ @ @ @ @ consent on Supreme Court nominees .
Accordingly , I intend to follow the Constitution and @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nominee .
If the nominee reaches the Senate floor , I intend to @ @ @ @ @ , '' Romney said in a written statement .
He also said : `` The @ @ @ @ @ nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing party ’ s nominee @ @ @ @ @ of its own . ''

The Republican who voted yes on removing Trump from office is just fine with that impeached so-called president stacking the Supreme Court. CNN:
Romney's decision provides the votes needed to move ahead with the process to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat.
"The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees. Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the President’s nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications," Romney said in a written statement.
He also said: "The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing party’s nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own."


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Kelly Loeffler Ad Boasts She's More Conservative Than Attila The Hun

There are stupid political ads , and then there 's this .
Loeffler is banking on there being enough stupid people in the electorate to fend off Doug Collins , and carry her past Rev .
Raphael Warnock should the Democrat make it to an expected run-off election for the Special Election for the U.S. Senate seat from Georgia .
Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia is looking to highlight her conservative voting record in a new ad Monday that compares her to Attila the Hun .
In the ad from Loeffler 's campaign , a woman asks , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most conservative senator in America ? ''
to which a man replies , `` Yup , she 's more conservative than Attila the Hun . ''
The scene cuts to a scene of a warrior who is purportedly Attila the Hun , who grunts at a scribe taking notes .
`` Fight China -- got it , '' the scribe says while writing .
`` Attack big government -- yeah . ''
`` Eliminate the liberal scribes ... uh oh , '' the scribe says in response to the last grunt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , `` More conservative than Attila the Hun .
Kelly Loeffler : 100 % Trump voting record . ''

There are stupid political ads, and then there's this.
Loeffler is banking on there being enough stupid people in the electorate to fend off Doug Collins, and carry her past Rev. Raphael Warnock should the Democrat make it to an expected run-off election for the Special Election for the U.S. Senate seat from Georgia.
Source: CNN
Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia is looking to highlight her conservative voting record in a new ad Monday that compares her to Attila the Hun. In the ad from Loeffler's campaign, a woman asks, "Did you know Kelly Loeffler was ranked the most conservative senator in America?" to which a man replies, "Yup, she's more conservative than Attila the Hun." The scene cuts to a scene of a warrior who is purportedly Attila the Hun, who grunts at a scribe taking notes. "Fight China -- got it," the scribe says while writing. "Attack big government -- yeah." "Eliminate the liberal scribes ... uh oh," the scribe says in response to the last grunt to end the scene. A narrator then says, "More conservative than Attila the Hun. Kelly Loeffler: 100% Trump voting record."


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--Donald Trump?  'He's Not That Innocent'

Donald Trump?  'He's Not That Innocent'

In light of the news that Putin is personally involved in the disinformation campaign against Joe Biden , the new @ @ @ @ @ various times Trump has kissed up to his dreamy hero Vova .
After Trump stalking @ @ @ @ @ n't it great that these two crazy kids finally got together ?
Uh , we @ @ @ @ @ at another time .
President Putin , he just said it ’ s not Russia @ @ @ @ @ , I don ’ t see any reason why it would be .
All while @ @ @ @ @ It Again '' plays in the background .
Enjoy !

In light of the news that Putin is personally involved in the disinformation campaign against Joe Biden, the new Lincoln Project ad highlights the various times Trump has kissed up to his dreamy hero Vova.
After Trump stalking him for years, isn't it great that these two crazy kids finally got together?
Here's Trump evading a reporter's question about who poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Uh, we’ll talk about that at another time.
And here's the infamous Helsinki press conference:
President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be.
All while "Oops, I Did It Again" plays in the background. Enjoy!


crooksandliars--2020-09-22--CIA: Putin Directing The Disinformation Attacks And Influence Campaign On Joe Biden

Josh Rogin has what is still a shocking story : Our intelligence agencies have concluded that Vladimir Putin and his top aides are directing disinformation and an influence campaign against Joe Biden .
As someone who closely tracked this sort of thing in 2016 , I 'm familiar with the social media patterns and how they 're targeted .
Now it 's happening again , and is being amplified by American voices like Rudy Giuliani .
Via the Washington Post : “ We assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denigrating the former U.S. Vice President , supporting the U.S. president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November , ” the first line of the document says , according to the sources .
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Treasury Department have identified Derkach as a Russian agent , but it has not been publicly reported that the CIA , NSA and FBI believed Putin may be personally directing the campaign .
Derkach has denied working on behalf of Moscow .
The CIA assessment described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that his activities have included working through lobbyists , members of Congress and U.S. media organizations to disseminate and amplify his anti-Biden information .
Though it refers to Derkach ’ s interactions with a “ prominent ” person connected to the Trump campaign , the analysis does not identify the person .
Giuliani , who has been working with Derkach publicly for several months , is not named in the assessment .
Go read the rest , it 's important .
Because people convince themselves they 're too smart to fall for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you should read , too .
As Allison points out , the disinformation was n't completely fabricated -- it was woven into some facts , which made it harder to untangle .

Josh Rogin has what is still a shocking story: Our intelligence agencies have concluded that Vladimir Putin and his top aides are directing disinformation and an influence campaign against Joe Biden.
As someone who closely tracked this sort of thing in 2016, I'm familiar with the social media patterns and how they're targeted. Now it's happening again, and is being amplified by American voices like Rudy Giuliani. Via the Washington Post:
“We assess that President Vladimir Putin and the senior most Russian officials are aware of and probably directing Russia’s influence operations aimed at denigrating the former U.S. Vice President, supporting the U.S. president and fueling public discord ahead of the U.S. election in November,” the first line of the document says, according to the sources. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Treasury Department have identified Derkach as a Russian agent, but it has not been publicly reported that the CIA, NSA and FBI believed Putin may be personally directing the campaign. Derkach has denied working on behalf of Moscow. The CIA assessment described Derkach’s efforts in detail and said that his activities have included working through lobbyists, members of Congress and U.S. media organizations to disseminate and amplify his anti-Biden information. Though it refers to Derkach’s interactions with a “prominent” person connected to the Trump campaign, the analysis does not identify the person. Giuliani, who has been working with Derkach publicly for several months, is not named in the assessment.
Go read the rest, it's important. Because people convince themselves they're too smart to fall for it! Here's a Twitter thread you should read, too.
Saluti, here is your unroll: @allisongill: THREAD: Sit down and let me tell you a story. A story about how the GOP and the Kremlin nearly duped me… https://t.co/LarYV54pCV Share this if you think it's interesting. 🤖 — Thread Reader App (@threadreaderapp) September 22, 2020
As Allison points out, the disinformation wasn't completely fabricated -- it was woven into some facts, which made it harder to untangle.


crooksandliars--2020-09-23--Morning Joe: It's Time We All Talked About Fascism

I was not just surprised , but stunned that Morning Joe devoted its first hour to discussing Donald Trump and the signs of rising fascism in the United States .
Hard to pick out just one segment , but this portion with Jay Johnson was instructive .
`` In 2016 , I was on a speaking tour with the German consulate , going around the country talking about the 2016 election .
I was talking to sort of a German equivalent of NPR in Frankfurt and everybody was asking me , 'Is he going to get elected ? '
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an older woman there , and I said , 'Look , the numbers say probably not , you know , et cetera , et cetera .
He says these really crazy racist things .
It seems unlikely .
The electoral college does n't work in his favor , ' `` he recounted .
`` And the oldest woman in the room , who was in her 80s , said , 'We were saying the same thing about Hitler in the '30s , in Germany . '
So , you 're right , Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ocean and had Germans saying , ' I ca n't believe you Americans do n't see that this is coming .
and I think the most worrisome part that I have to say in all of this is , you 're right , yeah , there were people who called it out , black people , Latinos , Asians who called it out .
I think it took too long for many members of the press to accept that .
`` And people who were saying it in 2015 were sometimes called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hyperbolic , you 're using extreme language , it wo n't get that bad , other people will keep him in control . '
And that 's why we are where we are today . ''
Joe Scarborough pointed out that the federal judiciary has done `` a pretty exemplary job of holding Donald Trump 's worst instincts in check . ''
( Of course , Trump has appointed over 200 right wing judges now . )
`` The press , the investigative corps of the press , they 've done an exemplary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But where he breaks through these norms and where polite society is not allowed to say , this is -- he 's talking the way fascists talk -- that 's where there is a concern .
And I will say , again , I have long had faith in the institutions of this country to hold Donald Trump in check .
I believe the institutions of this country have done a good job , for the most part , other than the spineless Congress , the spineless United States Senate , of holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autocratic , fascist instincts . ''
And here 's the part that really shocked me : Scarborough spelled out the failings of the press in coming to terms with what 's happening .
`` I think , though , what Masha Gessen has said , what Jay Rosen has underlined at NYU , is the fact that we have n't been as good in the media of moving beyond our current political lexicon , the political lexicon , the language , the boundaries of debate that we 've used over the past 240 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president that 's spoken like this . ''
This is very significant , that Morning Joe is sounding this alarm .
Who will listen who does n't already know ?

I was not just surprised, but stunned that Morning Joe devoted its first hour to discussing Donald Trump and the signs of rising fascism in the United States. Hard to pick out just one segment, but this portion with Jay Johnson was instructive.
"In 2016, I was on a speaking tour with the German consulate, going around the country talking about the 2016 election. I was talking to sort of a German equivalent of NPR in Frankfurt and everybody was asking me, 'Is he going to get elected?' The Germans were really worried. There was an older woman there, and I said, 'Look, the numbers say probably not, you know, et cetera, et cetera. He says these really crazy racist things. It seems unlikely. The electoral college doesn't work in his favor,' " he recounted.
"And the oldest woman in the room, who was in her 80s, said, 'We were saying the same thing about Hitler in the '30s, in Germany.' So, you're right, Joe. I mean, I was across the ocean and had Germans saying, 'I can't believe you Americans don't see that this is coming. and I think the most worrisome part that I have to say in all of this is, you're right, yeah, there were people who called it out, black people, Latinos, Asians who called it out. I think it took too long for many members of the press to accept that.
"And people who were saying it in 2015 were sometimes called, you know, 'you're being hyperbolic, you're using extreme language, it won't get that bad, other people will keep him in control.' And that's why we are where we are today."
Joe Scarborough pointed out that the federal judiciary has done "a pretty exemplary job of holding Donald Trump's worst instincts in check." (Of course, Trump has appointed over 200 right wing judges now.)
"The press, the investigative corps of the press, they've done an exemplary job in many ways as well. But where he breaks through these norms and where polite society is not allowed to say, this is -- he's talking the way fascists talk -- that's where there is a concern. And I will say, again, I have long had faith in the institutions of this country to hold Donald Trump in check. I believe the institutions of this country have done a good job, for the most part, other than the spineless Congress, the spineless United States Senate, of holding this man in check and his worst autocratic, fascist instincts."
And here's the part that really shocked me: Scarborough spelled out the failings of the press in coming to terms with what's happening.
"I think, though, what Masha Gessen has said, what Jay Rosen has underlined at NYU, is the fact that we haven't been as good in the media of moving beyond our current political lexicon, the political lexicon, the language, the boundaries of debate that we've used over the past 240 years because we've never had a president that's spoken like this."
This is very significant, that Morning Joe is sounding this alarm. Who will listen who doesn't already know?


crooksandliars--2020-09-23--Kayleigh McEnany Can't Explain Why Trump Says COVID Affects ‘Virtually Nobody’

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump after he said that COVID-19 affects “ virtually nobody ” even though the death toll has passed 200,000 people in the United States .
At a White House press briefing , McEnany was asked about the rising death toll .
In response , she pointed to projections that 2 million people could have died if the administration took no action against the pandemic .
“ We grieve when even one life is lost , ” she said .
“ But the fact that we have come nowhere near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president taking immediate action.
” At that point , CNN correspondent Jim Acosta noted that Trump had recently told his supporters that COVID-19 affects “ virtually nobody , ” referring to young people .
“ Shouldn ’ t the president be telling people the truth about this virus at his rallies ?
” Acosta asked .
“ The president is telling people the truth , ” the press secretary insisted .
“ Jim , but you ’ re again taking the president out of context , ” McEnany complained .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not taking it out of context , ” the CNN correspondent fired back .
“ If I said he ’ s talking about younger people then I ’ m not taking it out of context.
” “ You are taking it out of context , ” McEnany repeated , “ because you ’ re making an assertion that he ’ s not giving critical information when in fact he is.
” “ Young people can contract the coronavirus and then spread it to older people , ” Acosta replied .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very beginning and for the president of the United States at 200,000 deaths to go out to his rallies and say something like it virtually affects nobody and in some states it ’ s not affecting young people , that is glossing over the fact and really diminishing the fact that young people can catch this virus and spread it to older people.
” “ The president has never downplayed critical health information , ” McEnany later told reporters .

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday defended President Donald Trump after he said that COVID-19 affects “virtually nobody” even though the death toll has passed 200,000 people in the United States.
At a White House press briefing, McEnany was asked about the rising death toll. In response, she pointed to projections that 2 million people could have died if the administration took no action against the pandemic.
“We grieve when even one life is lost,” she said. “But the fact that we have come nowhere near that number is a testament to this president taking immediate action.”
At that point, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta noted that Trump had recently told his supporters that COVID-19 affects “virtually nobody,” referring to young people.
“Shouldn’t the president be telling people the truth about this virus at his rallies?” Acosta asked.
“The president is telling people the truth,” the press secretary insisted.
“He’s not telling the truth,” Acosta pressed.
“Jim, but you’re again taking the president out of context,” McEnany complained. “He was referring to young people.”
“I’m not taking it out of context,” the CNN correspondent fired back. “If I said he’s talking about younger people then I’m not taking it out of context.”
“You are taking it out of context,” McEnany repeated, “because you’re making an assertion that he’s not giving critical information when in fact he is.”
“Young people can contract the coronavirus and then spread it to older people,” Acosta replied. “We’ve known this since the very beginning and for the president of the United States at 200,000 deaths to go out to his rallies and say something like it virtually affects nobody and in some states it’s not affecting young people, that is glossing over the fact and really diminishing the fact that young people can catch this virus and spread it to older people.”
“The president has never downplayed critical health information,” McEnany later told reporters.