crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Jake Tapper Slams GOP For Sticking With Trump And Giuliani: 'Good Luck With That'

CNN 's Jake Tapper with a reminder that Republicans wo n't stop kowtowing to Trump anytime soon , and slammed the party for hitching their wagon to the likes of Rudy Giuliani and the rest of Trump 's legal team that could n't even manage to book their press conference at the right place over the weekend .
Donald Trump ’ s increasingly desperate bid to hang on to the White House crossed into abject farce on Saturday , after his campaign staged a purportedly major press conference at a Philadelphia landscaping business situated between a crematorium and sex shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played golf and continued to baselessly accuse the Democrats of stealing the election for Joe Biden , the president announced , in a tweet that was subsequently deleted , a “ big press conference ” at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia .
Trump quickly altered his statement , revealing that the press conference venue was not a Four Seasons hotel , but Four Seasons Total Landscaping , a suburban business between a crematorium and an adult book store on the outer edges of the city .
“ Big press conference today in Philadelphia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” the president tweeted at 9.45am .
The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia distanced itself from both campaign and landscaping company .
Tapper wished the party `` good luck '' if this is what they choose to stick with , but he continues to give way too much credence to the notion that Republicans are EVER going to work in good faith with Democrats .
Unless he was asleep during the Obama administration , he should already know that the answer to the question he posed on that issue is `` hell no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been paying attention for the last five years , president Trump 's refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election , and his refusal to concede graciously was completely expected .
That so many Republican officials to this day have yet to acknowledge president-elect Biden and vice president-elect Harris is also frankly , not a surprise .
Neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or Kevin McCarthy have even issued statements congratulating Biden and Harris , much less reached out to them to offer to work together for the benefit of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With very few notable exceptions , including Governor Hogan and Senator Romney with whom we spoke earlier , Republican officials have been complicit in the indecent behavior the president has subjected the nation to for the last five years—lies , the cruelty , the inadequate handling of the coronavirus pandemic , which has cost more than 237,000 lives in the United States , a number that continues to grow .
They no longer have to behave this way , Republican leaders , but right now many of them are either , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is any credible evidence of election fraud , or , b , they are issuing mealy-mouthed statements about how the statement about how the president has has every right to seek his day in court for any legitimate claims , even though they know there are no legitimate claims .
So why ?
After all , president Trump will be shown the door on January 20th whether he concedes or not .
Well , it 's because he is not leaving American political life .
As long as there is a twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will have a voice .
As long as he has a voice , he will have influence with his tens of millions of supporters .
And as long as he has influence with those supporters , Republicans who want to gain or to keep power will refuse to cross him .
In his address to the nation last night , president-elect Biden did something I 've never heard a president-elect do .
He presented as his mandate the notion of compromise .
The desire to work with Republicans .
The desire to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the things about him that many progressives disdain .
They think he is naive .
Is he ?
Are Republicans going to accept his offer in good faith ?
Will they join Democrats , roll up their sleeves and do everything they can to help this nation in pain ?
I do n't know .
The 70 million Trump voters , well they need leadership , frankly .
They need to have their concerns addressed and fought for .
But right now the majority of Republicans in Washington , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with these guys .
Do you know what this is ?
This is a press conference held by Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the president 's legal team yesterday , making wild , completely unsubstantiated allegations about voter fraud .
Now , originally the president billed this press conference as taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Philadelphia , but it actually ended up being held in the back of Four Seasons Total Landscaping , no relation to the hotel , very far from the center of Philadelphia , next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Delaware Valley Cremation Center , in an industrial part of town north of the that Coney Palm Island bridge .
An obvious screw-up in booking , but they all played along , pretended that that was the master plan the whole time .
That 's what republican lawmakers want to stick with ?
Good luck with that .
It 's not just Trump .
As long as the right-wing echo chamber of Fox , OANN , hate talk radio , QAnon , far right blogs and on and no continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope of any of them joining the fact-based universe anytime soon .
UPDATE : This reaction seems to sum it up best .

CNN's Jake Tapper with a reminder that Republicans won't stop kowtowing to Trump anytime soon, and slammed the party for hitching their wagon to the likes of Rudy Giuliani and the rest of Trump's legal team that couldn't even manage to book their press conference at the right place over the weekend.
Trump quickly altered his statement, revealing that the press conference venue was not a Four Seasons hotel, but Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a suburban business between a crematorium and an adult book store on the outer edges of the city.
On Saturday morning, as Trump played golf and continued to baselessly accuse the Democrats of stealing the election for Joe Biden, the president announced, in a tweet that was subsequently deleted, a “big press conference” at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia.
Donald Trump’s increasingly desperate bid to hang on to the White House crossed into abject farce on Saturday, after his campaign staged a purportedly major press conference at a Philadelphia landscaping business situated between a crematorium and sex shop.
Some say the world will end in fire/ Others say at Four Seasons Total Landscaping north of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge, near the porn shop
Tapper wished the party "good luck" if this is what they choose to stick with, but he continues to give way too much credence to the notion that Republicans are EVER going to work in good faith with Democrats. Unless he was asleep during the Obama administration, he should already know that the answer to the question he posed on that issue is "hell no."
That so many Republican officials to this day have yet to acknowledge president-elect Biden and vice president-elect Harris is also frankly, not a surprise. Neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or Kevin McCarthy have even issued statements congratulating Biden and Harris, much less reached out to them to offer to work together for the benefit of the American people. Again, not a shock.
With very few notable exceptions, including Governor Hogan and Senator Romney with whom we spoke earlier, Republican officials have been complicit in the indecent behavior the president has subjected the nation to for the last five years—lies, the cruelty, the inadequate handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has cost more than 237,000 lives in the United States, a number that continues to grow.
They no longer have to behave this way, Republican leaders, but right now many of them are either, a, going along with this fiction that there is any credible evidence of election fraud, or, b, they are issuing mealy-mouthed statements about how the statement about how the president has has every right to seek his day in court for any legitimate claims, even though they know there are no legitimate claims.
So why? After all, president Trump will be shown the door on January 20th whether he concedes or not. Well, it's because he is not leaving American political life. As long as there is a twitter and a right-wing media ecosystem, Donald Trump will have a voice. As long as he has a voice, he will have influence with his tens of millions of supporters. And as long as he has influence with those supporters, Republicans who want to gain or to keep power will refuse to cross him.
In his address to the nation last night, president-elect Biden did something I've never heard a president-elect do. He presented as his mandate the notion of compromise. The desire to work with Republicans. The desire to heal divisions. This quality is actually one of the things about him that many progressives disdain. They think he is naive. Is he?
Are Republicans going to accept his offer in good faith? Will they join Democrats, roll up their sleeves and do everything they can to help this nation in pain? I don't know. The 70 million Trump voters, well they need leadership, frankly. They need to have their concerns addressed and fought for.
But right now the majority of Republicans in Washington, they are not on planet earth. They are with these guys. Do you know what this is? This is a press conference held by Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the president's legal team yesterday, making wild, completely unsubstantiated allegations about voter fraud.
Now, originally the president billed this press conference as taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Philadelphia, but it actually ended up being held in the back of Four Seasons Total Landscaping, no relation to the hotel, very far from the center of Philadelphia, next to Fantasy Island Adult Books, across from the Delaware Valley Cremation Center, in an industrial part of town north of the that Coney Palm Island bridge.
An obvious screw-up in booking, but they all played along, pretended that that was the master plan the whole time.
That's what republican lawmakers want to stick with? Good luck with that.


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--'Where Is The DOJ?': Fox News Challenges Rudy Giuliani On 'Systemic' Voter Fraud

Rudy Giuliani , an attorney for President Donald Trump , seemed stunned on Sunday after he was asked why the Department of Justice is not pursuing the campaign 's claims of widespread voter fraud .
After Giuliani made multiple claims of voter fraud on Fox News , host Maria Bartiromo wondered why federal law enforcement had not launched an investigation .
`` Where is the DOJ ? ''
she asked .
`` Where is Bill Barr on this ?
If this was systemic and you 've got all of this evidence , where is the DOJ ? ''
Giuliani appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Uh , uh , '' he said , struggling for a response .
`` The answer to that is I do n't know and I ca n't worry about it . ''
The president 's attorney then changed the subject to complain about a dispute over election monitors in Pennsylvania .
`` Will the president concede anytime soon ? ''
Bartiromo wondered .
`` At this point it would be wrong for him to concede , '' Giuliani replied .
`` There is strong evidence that this was an election -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly ten -- it was stolen . ''

Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump, seemed stunned on Sunday after he was asked why the Department of Justice is not pursuing the campaign's claims of widespread voter fraud.
After Giuliani made multiple claims of voter fraud on Fox News, host Maria Bartiromo wondered why federal law enforcement had not launched an investigation.
"Where is the DOJ?" she asked. "Where is Bill Barr on this? If this was systemic and you've got all of this evidence, where is the DOJ?"
Giuliani appeared to be taken aback by the question.
"Uh, uh," he said, struggling for a response. "The answer to that is I don't know and I can't worry about it."
The president's attorney then changed the subject to complain about a dispute over election monitors in Pennsylvania.
"Will the president concede anytime soon?" Bartiromo wondered.
"At this point it would be wrong for him to concede," Giuliani replied. "There is strong evidence that this was an election -- at least three or four states and possibly ten -- it was stolen."


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Trump's Voter Hotline For Election Fraud Turns Into A Nightmare

If you 'd like to add your own concerned citizen call , the phone number is 1-888-630-1776 .
Since Election @ @ @ @ @ staffers have been huddled on a noisy floor in the campaign 's Arlington , Virginia @ @ @ @ @ calls a day on a hotline the campaign set up as they try to find @ @ @ @ @ multiple sources told ABC News .
But the hotline has turned into a nightmare for @ @ @ @ @ some of whom have contracts that expire in the coming days , have been bombarded @ @ @ @ @ laughing or mocking them over Biden 's win before hanging up , sources tell ABC @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign 's hotline has already become a trend on TikTok , the social media @ @ @ @ @ in the year in an attempt to tank the president 's rally in Tulsa by @ @ @ @ @ campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

If you'd like to add your own prank concerned citizen call, the phone number is 1-888-630-1776.
Source: ABC News
Since Election Day, many Trump campaign staffers have been huddled on a noisy floor in the campaign's Arlington, Virginia, headquarters fielding hundreds of calls a day on a hotline the campaign set up as they try to find instances of voter fraud, multiple sources told ABC News.
But the hotline has turned into a nightmare for some, as staffers, some of whom have contracts that expire in the coming days, have been bombarded with prank calls from people laughing or mocking them over Biden's win before hanging up, sources tell ABC News. Prank calling the Trump campaign's hotline has already become a trend on TikTok, the social media network that was used earlier in the year in an attempt to tank the president's rally in Tulsa by mass-requesting tickets.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Newt Gingrich Regurgitates Deep State Voter Fraud Conspiracies On Fox About Biden's Win

Newt Gingrich joined Donald Trump 's favorite morning show to spend five minutes hyperventilating over unproven and nonexistent voter fraud claims , spewing deep state hatred and accusing George Soros of stealing the 2020 election from Trump .
Fox News has never been transparent about Gingrich 's true conflict of interest in supporting the Trump administration on TV ( and spreading false information to their viewers . )
Trump named his wife , Callista Gingrich as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See .
With the Biden administration coming in , she will be unceremoniously be removed from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a dancing organ grinder monkey for F & F for five full minutes ( I 'll spare you most of it ) before co-host Jedediah Bila finally confronted him .
`` I wanted to ask you for clarity because the accusation of incidents of voter fraud , which do happen in every election , unfortunately , is very different from the accusation of a stolen election , that ’ s very serious '' Bila said .
Bila continued , “ The implication there is that there 's enough widespread voter fraud going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election .
I haven ’ t seen evidence of that to this moment .
Is that what you ’ re suggesting has happened here ?
” Gingrich was stunned for a moment and then said , `` What I 'm suggesting is you do not see the evidence because the local officials , who are Democrats , hide the evidence and then turned to you and say 'Since you have no evidence ... ' '' Arizona and Georgia are not run by Democratic officials , not that facts or numbers matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Gingrich then claimed that the states coordinated together , and if more Democratic votes came in for Biden , how do you prove that without getting the FBI involved ?
Then he went on to slam the FBI .
Newt Gingrich is one of the most reprehensible men , and most responsible for turning the Republican Party into QAnon conspiracy freaks , disingenuous liars , and hypocrites from the moment he arrived in Congress in 1994 .

Newt Gingrich joined Donald Trump's favorite morning show to spend five minutes hyperventilating over unproven and nonexistent voter fraud claims, spewing deep state hatred and accusing George Soros of stealing the 2020 election from Trump.
Fox News has never been transparent about Gingrich's true conflict of interest in supporting the Trump administration on TV (and spreading false information to their viewers.) Trump named his wife, Callista Gingrich as the United States Ambassador to the Holy See. With the Biden administration coming in, she will be unceremoniously be removed from the position.
Gingrich spread lies and propaganda like a dancing organ grinder monkey for F&F for five full minutes (I'll spare you most of it) before co-host Jedediah Bila finally confronted him.
"I wanted to ask you for clarity because the accusation of incidents of voter fraud, which do happen in every election, unfortunately, is very different from the accusation of a stolen election, that’s very serious" Bila said.
Bila continued, “The implication there is that there's enough widespread voter fraud going on that would have changed the outcome of the election. I haven’t seen evidence of that to this moment. Is that what you’re suggesting has happened here?”
Gingrich was stunned for a moment and then said, "What I'm suggesting is you do not see the evidence because the local officials, who are Democrats, hide the evidence and then turned to you and say 'Since you have no evidence...'"
Arizona and Georgia are not run by Democratic officials, not that facts or numbers matter to Republicans when they spread propaganda for Trump.
Gingrich then claimed that the states coordinated together, and if more Democratic votes came in for Biden, how do you prove that without getting the FBI involved? Then he went on to slam the FBI.
Newt Gingrich is one of the most reprehensible men, and most responsible for turning the Republican Party into QAnon conspiracy freaks, disingenuous liars, and hypocrites from the moment he arrived in Congress in 1994.


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Mitt Romney On Voter Fraud Claims: Trump 'Has A Relatively Relaxed Relationship With The Truth'

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah on Sunday knocked down President Donald Trump 's claim that Democrats are trying to @ @ @ @ @ Romney was asked about the president 's assertions of voter fraud during an interview on @ @ @ @ @ not going to change the nature of President Trump in these last days , apparently @ @ @ @ @ '' Romney said .
`` He is who he is .
And he has a @ @ @ @ @ truth .
And so he 's going to keep on fighting until the very end @ @ @ @ @ predicted that Trump will eventually `` accept the inevitable '' and concede the election .
@ @ @ @ @ him to go quietly in the night , '' he added .
`` That 's @ @ @ @ @ ''

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah on Sunday knocked down President Donald Trump's claim that Democrats are trying to steal the 2020 election.
Romney was asked about the president's assertions of voter fraud during an interview on CNN.
"You're not going to change the nature of President Trump in these last days, apparently, of his presidency," Romney said. "He is who he is. And he has a relatively relaxed relationship with the truth. And so he's going to keep on fighting until the very end."
The Utah Republican predicted that Trump will eventually "accept the inevitable" and concede the election.
"But don't expect him to go quietly in the night," he added. "That's not how he operates."


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Fox News Suspends Jeanine Pirro's Show After She Planned To Air Baseless Voter Fraud Claims: Report

Fox News reportedly cancelled Jeanine Pirro 's show over the weekend after she was set to make the baseless claim @ @ @ @ @ place in the 2020 election .
According to Newsmax , Pirro wanted `` to expose @ @ @ @ @ place in the election . ''
Fox News hosts are on record saying that there @ @ @ @ @ voter fraud .
It was not immediately clear if Pirro 's show would return to @ @ @ @ @ date .
UPDATE : In a statement to Raw Story , a spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ the result of a disagreement and that Pirro 's show was `` pre-empted due to @ @ @ @ @ '' and that the host will return to the air next week .

Fox News reportedly cancelled Jeanine Pirro's show over the weekend after she was set to make the baseless claim that widespread voter fraud took place in the 2020 election.
According to Newsmax, Pirro wanted "to expose the vote fraud that took place in the election."
Fox News hosts are on record saying that there is no widespread evidence of voter fraud.
It was not immediately clear if Pirro's show would return to Fox News at a later date.
UPDATE: In a statement to Raw Story, a spokesperson for the network denied the cancellation was the result of a disagreement and that Pirro's show was "pre-empted due to special Democracy 2020 news coverage" and that the host will return to the air next week.


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--Fine Print Shows HALF Of Trump's Post-Election Fundraising Goes To Campaign Debt

While Democratic nominee Joe Biden remained on the verge of being declared winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential contest on Friday , Reuters reports that the Republican National Committee is seeking to raise $ 60 million to fund President Donald Trump 's legal battles over the election results—although the fine print of the message to donors indicates that up to half of each contribution could go toward retiring Trump 's pre-existing campaign debt .
As Common Dreams reported earlier on Friday , the Trump campaign—in addition to the president 's outrageous and baseless claims of fraud—is making desperate , last-ditch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battleground states where the incumbent 's early leads have disappeared .
`` This election is not over , '' claimed Matt Morgan , Trump 's top legal adviser , on Friday .
`` I will never give up fighting for you and our nation , '' the president said in a statement released by the White House .
Legal experts , however , say that Trump 's election litigation efforts `` have no merit whatsoever . ''
Wendy Weiser , director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's lawsuits `` look more like public relation stunts meant to create a false impression that the election is filled with improprieties and fraud . ''
`` I do n't see any real strategy here , '' she added .
Despite the fact that nearly all of Trump 's legal battles in Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , and Pennsylvania are being dismissed in court due to a lack of compelling evidence , the RNC is still trying to fundraise for the president .
`` They want $ 60 million , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign and the RNC told Reuters .
Political observers pointed to the `` fine print '' of the Trump and RNC donation forms with a warning that such gifts could readily be used to pay off pre-existing campaign debt : '' If you give money to Trump 's recount/postelection litigation efforts , '' tweeted Rick Hasen , professor of law and political science at UC Irvine , `` half of that money will go towards retiring his campaign debt instead , per the fine print . ''

While Democratic nominee Joe Biden remained on the verge of being declared winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential contest on Friday, Reuters reports that the Republican National Committee is seeking to raise $60 million to fund President Donald Trump's legal battles over the election results—although the fine print of the message to donors indicates that up to half of each contribution could go toward retiring Trump's pre-existing campaign debt.
As Common Dreams reported earlier on Friday, the Trump campaign—in addition to the president's outrageous and baseless claims of fraud—is making desperate, last-ditch attempts to contest vote-counting procedures in multiple battleground states where the incumbent's early leads have disappeared.
"This election is not over," claimed Matt Morgan, Trump's top legal adviser, on Friday. "I will never give up fighting for you and our nation," the president said in a statement released by the White House.
Legal experts, however, say that Trump's election litigation efforts "have no merit whatsoever."
Wendy Weiser, director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law argued that the president's lawsuits "look more like public relation stunts meant to create a false impression that the election is filled with improprieties and fraud."
"I don't see any real strategy here," she added.
Despite the fact that nearly all of Trump's legal battles in Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania are being dismissed in court due to a lack of compelling evidence, the RNC is still trying to fundraise for the president.
"They want $60 million," a Republican donor who was contacted by the Trump campaign and the RNC told Reuters.
Critics, however, smelled a grift.
Political observers pointed to the "fine print" of the Trump and RNC donation forms with a warning that such gifts could readily be used to pay off pre-existing campaign debt:
The fine-print on the flurry of fundraising emails being sent out by the Trump campaign/RNC and associated committees: pic.twitter.com/cQ6TXatvNh — Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 5, 2020
"If you give money to Trump's recount/postelection litigation efforts," tweeted Rick Hasen, professor of law and political science at UC Irvine, "half of that money will go towards retiring his campaign debt instead, per the fine print."
Republished from Common Dreams (Kenny Stancil, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-11-08--The GOP's Future: Empirical Reality Or Cloud-Cuckooland?

There seems to be a schism in the GOP right now .
One group of Republicans thinks this is the smart , career-savvy approach to the present situation : Sources close to the White House said some senior officials inside the White House and the campaign are beginning to quietly back away from Trump , in acts of self-preservation , as the returns in Pennsylvania and Georgia indicate the President will not win reelection .
`` It 's over , '' one key adviser to the administration said of the race ... .
[ An ] adviser to the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims of a stolen election .
`` He is mostly alone here , '' the adviser said of Trump 's claims of voter fraud ... .
One pressure point for Trump is that some in the administration are already beginning to look beyond the 2020 race and toward 2024 .
One adviser said some inside the administration and the GOP are starting to measure their actions based on ambitions for the next campaign cycle .
And then there are these folks : Minnesota GOP Chairperson Jennifer Carnahan told party activists on Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot fraud made by President Donald Trump and national Republican leaders ... .
Carnahan said that earlier Thursday , Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel asked her and other GOP officials around the country to recruit elected Republicans to parrot the false claims of fraud ... .
“ Regarding the field staff that we had in Minnesota , at this point , the field staff has been re-resourced or redeployed or reallocated to help out right now in Michigan , Georgia and Arizona , ” she said .
“ We need to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; their campaign feels like we ’ re gon na bring all them home .
So we are going to deliver this great Donald Trump another four years in this country. ''
...
In an interview with the Star Tribune on Friday , she appeared to be executing on the effort , criticizing election law changes in states like Minnesota that expanded mail-in voting efforts amid the pandemic .
“ When changes like that are brought forward at a mass level in multiple states , it does raise questions , it does raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think everyone who 's expressing suspicions of electoral fraud actually believes there was any .
I think many of them are just making a different bet on what 's good for their careers as Republicans .
I 've been saying for years that Donald Trump will remain the effective head of the GOP even in defeat , but the Trump end-timers might not be remaining loyal to him because they believe that .
They might just believe that the Republican electorate , goaded not only by the Trump campaign but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embrace the election fraud narrative , and will conclude that anyone who does n't embrace it is a sellout RINO , not only over the next several weeks but well into the future .
It 's possible that the people who are bailing on Trump are right .
It 's possible that delusional Trumpers will lose control of the party .
But I doubt it .
I think the end-timers are making the right bet .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

There seems to be a schism in the GOP right now. One group of Republicans thinks this is the smart, career-savvy approach to the present situation:
Sources close to the White House said some senior officials inside the White House and the campaign are beginning to quietly back away from Trump, in acts of self-preservation, as the returns in Pennsylvania and Georgia indicate the President will not win reelection. "It's over," one key adviser to the administration said of the race.... [An] adviser to the campaign described Trump as increasingly isolated in his claims of a stolen election. "He is mostly alone here," the adviser said of Trump's claims of voter fraud.... One pressure point for Trump is that some in the administration are already beginning to look beyond the 2020 race and toward 2024. One adviser said some inside the administration and the GOP are starting to measure their actions based on ambitions for the next campaign cycle.
And then there are these folks:
Minnesota GOP Chairperson Jennifer Carnahan told party activists on Thursday night that she would help amplify claims of ballot fraud made by President Donald Trump and national Republican leaders.... Carnahan said that earlier Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel asked her and other GOP officials around the country to recruit elected Republicans to parrot the false claims of fraud.... “Regarding the field staff that we had in Minnesota, at this point, the field staff has been re-resourced or redeployed or reallocated to help out right now in Michigan, Georgia and Arizona,” she said. “We need to bring all these states home for the president; their campaign feels like we’re gonna bring all them home. So we are going to deliver this great Donald Trump another four years in this country."... In an interview with the Star Tribune on Friday, she appeared to be executing on the effort, criticizing election law changes in states like Minnesota that expanded mail-in voting efforts amid the pandemic. “When changes like that are brought forward at a mass level in multiple states, it does raise questions, it does raise some doubt,” Carnahan said.
I don't think everyone who's expressing suspicions of electoral fraud actually believes there was any. I think many of them are just making a different bet on what's good for their careers as Republicans.
I've been saying for years that Donald Trump will remain the effective head of the GOP even in defeat, but the Trump end-timers might not be remaining loyal to him because they believe that. They might just believe that the Republican electorate, goaded not only by the Trump campaign but also by right-wing media, will fervently embrace the election fraud narrative, and will conclude that anyone who doesn't embrace it is a sellout RINO, not only over the next several weeks but well into the future.
It's possible that the people who are bailing on Trump are right. It's possible that delusional Trumpers will lose control of the party.
But I doubt it. I think the end-timers are making the right bet.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--John Oliver: We Won't Have To Think About Him Once He's Gone

Via The Wrap , John Oliver compared the election results to `` a reverse 9/11 '' : [ ... ] Oliver spent the bulk of the show gloating and mocking attempts by Trump — along with his surrogates and his delusional fans who protested vote-counting last week — to try to undermine democracy and steal the election .
He did , for the last few minutes of the show , look ahead to the next battles , and how Democrats really ought to try catering to the progressive people of color who delivered the victory for Biden , rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But before he got into that , Oliver wanted to stress how important it is to savor this victory , even though it might not be the end of the fight against fascists and fascist sympathizers in America .
Because , if nothing else , it will be psychologically helpful to not have to pay attention to what Trump is doing anymore .
“ Here is the really important thing .
After this absolute year of a week — the days of counting , the misinformation , the desperate , pathetic attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact is Trump lost this election .
He lost .
All that bulls— which we ’ ve grown accustomed to seeing work , did not work this time , ” a gleeful Oliver declared .
“ And it ’ s not like Trump and his family are gon na stop .
They ’ re gon na carry on grifting and lying like they ’ ve always done .
But once he ’ s out of the White House , it ’ s just not gon na have the same effect anymore .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every American ’ s life , and that alone is fucking fantastic .
”

Via The Wrap, John Oliver compared the election results to "a reverse 9/11":
[...] Oliver spent the bulk of the show gloating and mocking attempts by Trump — along with his surrogates and his delusional fans who protested vote-counting last week — to try to undermine democracy and steal the election. He did, for the last few minutes of the show, look ahead to the next battles, and how Democrats really ought to try catering to the progressive people of color who delivered the victory for Biden, rather than the Republicans who opposed that victory.
But before he got into that, Oliver wanted to stress how important it is to savor this victory, even though it might not be the end of the fight against fascists and fascist sympathizers in America. Because, if nothing else, it will be psychologically helpful to not have to pay attention to what Trump is doing anymore.
“Here is the really important thing. After this absolute year of a week — the days of counting, the misinformation, the desperate, pathetic attempts to paint this process as fraudulent — the fact is Trump lost this election. He lost. All that bulls— which we’ve grown accustomed to seeing work, did not work this time,” a gleeful Oliver declared.
“And it’s not like Trump and his family are gonna stop. They’re gonna carry on grifting and lying like they’ve always done. But once he’s out of the White House, it’s just not gonna have the same effect anymore. It’s not gonna directly impact every American’s life, and that alone is fucking fantastic.”


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Fox News Host Wants James Clyburn To Say 'Thank You' To Trump Voters

House Majority Whip James Clyburn ( D-SC ) on Sunday faced off with a Fox News host who argued that he should say `` thank you '' to President Donald Trump 's supporters .
During the interview on Fox News , host Harris Faulkner noted that `` nearly 71 million Americans '' voted for Trump . ''
`` They believed in him , '' she insisted .
`` And they still want him to prevail legally .
However that can happen , we do n't know .
But we 're following the story obviously .
What do you say to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people because when I hear you saying that Biden is not going to listen to the far left , I know from my own reporting with people that that 's a sigh of relief because he 's going to be the president , not [ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ] or some of the others .
But what 's your message to all of those Trump supporters ? ''
`` To begin with , nearly 75 million people voted for Joe Biden , '' Clyburn pointed out .
`` And the last time I checked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
So I think Joe Biden has an obligation to do what he said he was going to do .
And that is run as a proud Democrat , but government as a proud American .
And that 's what he 's going to do . ''
`` I hear all of that , '' Faulkner said dismissively .
`` And I understand it .
But we are at such a tender point in our country , I thought that there might have been a thank you to those 71 million voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
Because it is impressive no matter which man would walk away with the presidency to bring us all together might have been there . ''
Before the interview was over , Clyburn took issue with Faulkner 's assertion that he had `` delivered '' Black voters to the Democratic Party .
`` I reflected the Black sentiment , '' Clyburn explained .
`` I did n't deliver anybody .
What I expressed in my endorsement [ of Biden ] was what I gathered from people that I represent . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being Democrats vs. Republicans or the 75 million vs. the 71 million , '' he added .
`` I see this as a reflection of the United States of America , the people who want to continue the pursuit of a more perfect union . ''

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) on Sunday faced off with a Fox News host who argued that he should say "thank you" to President Donald Trump's supporters.
During the interview on Fox News, host Harris Faulkner noted that "nearly 71 million Americans" voted for Trump."
"They believed in him," she insisted. "And they still want him to prevail legally. However that can happen, we don't know. But we're following the story obviously. What do you say to them? How do you reach those people because when I hear you saying that Biden is not going to listen to the far left, I know from my own reporting with people that that's a sigh of relief because he's going to be the president, not [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] or some of the others. But what's your message to all of those Trump supporters?"
"To begin with, nearly 75 million people voted for Joe Biden," Clyburn pointed out. "And the last time I checked, 75 million is more than 71 million. So I think Joe Biden has an obligation to do what he said he was going to do. And that is run as a proud Democrat, but government as a proud American. And that's what he's going to do."
"I hear all of that," Faulkner said dismissively. "And I understand it. But we are at such a tender point in our country, I thought that there might have been a thank you to those 71 million voters who engaged at the rate that they did. Because it is impressive no matter which man would walk away with the presidency to bring us all together might have been there."
Before the interview was over, Clyburn took issue with Faulkner's assertion that he had "delivered" Black voters to the Democratic Party.
"I reflected the Black sentiment," Clyburn explained. "I didn't deliver anybody. What I expressed in my endorsement [of Biden] was what I gathered from people that I represent."
"I don't look on this as being Democrats vs. Republicans or the 75 million vs. the 71 million," he added. "I see this as a reflection of the United States of America, the people who want to continue the pursuit of a more perfect union."


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--‘Rainbow Wave’ Of LGBTQ Candidates Ran This Year And WON

More LGBTQ candidates ran for office in the United States in 2020 than ever before – at least 1,006 .
That ’ s a 41 % increase over the 2018 midterms , according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund .
While an estimated 5 % of the U.S. population identifies as lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender or queer , just 0.17 % of elected officials across all levels of the American government are LGBTQ .
Better political representation could help LGBTQ Americans maintain some of their hard-won rights , which have come under attack over the past four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has weakened trans-inclusive protections in schools , attempted to remove LGBTQ protections in health care and proposed allowing homeless shelters to turn away transgender people .
Marriage equality , too , may be under threat .
In early October , Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito suggested that the 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges , which made same-sex marriage legal across the United States , should be overturned .
In short , candidates and LGBTQ rights were both on the ballot in the 2020 election , either explicitly or implicitly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press time , here ’ s the takeaway from four down-ballot races I ’ ve been following as a scholar of LGBTQ politics .
Democrat Sarah McBride made history on Tuesday when she won a state Senate seat in Delaware .
In doing so , she ’ ll become the United States ’ highest-ranking transgender elected official and the first openly transgender person to serve in a state Senate anywhere in the nation .
McBride defeated Republican Steve Washington .
Previously , Danica Roem , a Virginia Democrat who won a seat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was the highest-ranking transgender person in elected office .
Roem was re-elected in 2019 .
Other transgender women , including Taylor Smalls of Vermont and Stephanie Byers of Kansas , also won state-level races on Tuesday in notable victories .
At the start of this election cycle , only three U.S. states – Hawaii , South Dakota and Mississippi – had no openly LGBTQ elected officials at any level of government .
This year , candidates in Hawaii and South Dakota hoped to get their states off that list .
Democrat Jared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win a seat for state House District 25 to become the state ’ s first openly LGBTQ elected official in the state Legislature .
However , in Hawaii , Adrian Tam – who upset a 14-year incumbent in the August Democratic primary for the state House of Representatives – defeated Republican Nicholas Ochs , making him Hawaii ’ s only openly LGBTQ elected official .
One Georgia Senate race remained undecided on election night .
The other – an unusual race called a “ jungle primary ” between Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has drawn national attention from LGBTQ advocates .
A political newcomer , Loeffler was appointed to her seat by Gov .
Brian Kemp in late 2019 following the retirement of longtime Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson .
Neither Loeffler nor her top opponent in the jungle primary , Democratic contender the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , received over 50 % of the vote , so a runoff election will be held in the coming weeks .
This runoff will be significant for the LGBTQ community because of Loeffler ’ s recent sponsorship of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing school sports .
Loeffler ’ s proposed legislation is similar to Idaho ’ s new “ Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act ” – a law that could require girls who excel in athletics to “ prove their gender ” through a genital exam , DNA test or testosterone test .
LGBTQ rights groups fear Loeffler ’ s bill would allow schools across the country to conduct genital examinations of student athletes who are presumed to be transgender .
Warnock , a pastor at Georgia ’ s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LGBTQ rights and condemned Loeffler ’ s legislation , saying in an interview with the LGBTQ outlet Project Q that “ no one is free until we are all free.
” In the same interview , Warnock expressed his support for the Equality Act , proposed legislation that would add LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections into federal law .
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Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter and get expert takes on today ’ s news , every day . ]
LGBTQ Americans vote heavily Democratic .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the LGBTQ vote while running for president against Barack Obama .
In 2012 , Mitt Romney won 22 % of the LGBTQ vote .
And in 2016 , nationwide exit poll data of LGBTQ voters shows that Donald Trump received roughly 14 % of the LGBTQ vote .
Harvey Milk , the late San Francisco city councilman , is often incorrectly cited as the first openly LGBTQ elected official .
That pioneer was actually Kathy Kozachenko , who at age 21 won a seat on the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , LGBTQ candidates have made historic strides in political representation .
In 2017 , there were under 450 openly LGBTQ elected officials in the entire U.S. Over 150 LGBTQ candidates won elections at the federal , state and local levels in the 2018 midterm elections .
Another “ rainbow wave ” came in 2019 , bringing the total number of openly LGBTQ American elected officials to just under 700 .
Social acceptance of LGBTQ people is growing too , with over 70 % of Americans saying transgender people should be protected from discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute at the UCLA School of Law , and a similar percentage supporting marriage equality .
That has translated into ever more openly LGBTQ candidates running for office – and winning .
Timothy R. Bussey , Associate Director for the Office of Diversity , Equity and Inclusion , Kenyon College This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Timothy R. Bussey, Kenyon College
More LGBTQ candidates ran for office in the United States in 2020 than ever before – at least 1,006. That’s a 41% increase over the 2018 midterms, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
While an estimated 5% of the U.S. population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, just 0.17% of elected officials across all levels of the American government are LGBTQ.
Better political representation could help LGBTQ Americans maintain some of their hard-won rights, which have come under attack over the past four years. Since 2016, the Trump administration has weakened trans-inclusive protections in schools, attempted to remove LGBTQ protections in health care and proposed allowing homeless shelters to turn away transgender people.
Marriage equality, too, may be under threat. In early October, Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito suggested that the 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal across the United States, should be overturned.
In short, candidates and LGBTQ rights were both on the ballot in the 2020 election, either explicitly or implicitly. While many questions remain undecided at press time, here’s the takeaway from four down-ballot races I’ve been following as a scholar of LGBTQ politics.
Delaware
Democrat Sarah McBride made history on Tuesday when she won a state Senate seat in Delaware. In doing so, she’ll become the United States’ highest-ranking transgender elected official and the first openly transgender person to serve in a state Senate anywhere in the nation. McBride defeated Republican Steve Washington.
Previously, Danica Roem, a Virginia Democrat who won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, was the highest-ranking transgender person in elected office. Roem was re-elected in 2019.
Other transgender women, including Taylor Smalls of Vermont and Stephanie Byers of Kansas, also won state-level races on Tuesday in notable victories.
Hawaii and South Dakota
At the start of this election cycle, only three U.S. states – Hawaii, South Dakota and Mississippi – had no openly LGBTQ elected officials at any level of government. This year, candidates in Hawaii and South Dakota hoped to get their states off that list.
Facebook
Democrat Jared Nieuwenhuis of South Dakota was unable to win a seat for state House District 25 to become the state’s first openly LGBTQ elected official in the state Legislature.
However, in Hawaii, Adrian Tam – who upset a 14-year incumbent in the August Democratic primary for the state House of Representatives – defeated Republican Nicholas Ochs, making him Hawaii’s only openly LGBTQ elected official.
Georgia
One Georgia Senate race remained undecided on election night. The other – an unusual race called a “jungle primary” between Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler and 20 other candidates from various parties – has drawn national attention from LGBTQ advocates.
A political newcomer, Loeffler was appointed to her seat by Gov. Brian Kemp in late 2019 following the retirement of longtime Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson. Neither Loeffler nor her top opponent in the jungle primary, Democratic contender the Rev. Raphael Warnock, received over 50% of the vote, so a runoff election will be held in the coming weeks.
This runoff will be significant for the LGBTQ community because of Loeffler’s recent sponsorship of a Senate bill to ban transgender girls from playing school sports.
Loeffler’s proposed legislation is similar to Idaho’s new “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” – a law that could require girls who excel in athletics to “prove their gender” through a genital exam, DNA test or testosterone test. LGBTQ rights groups fear Loeffler’s bill would allow schools across the country to conduct genital examinations of student athletes who are presumed to be transgender.
Warnock, a pastor at Georgia’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, has made a strong public commitment to LGBTQ rights and condemned Loeffler’s legislation, saying in an interview with the LGBTQ outlet Project Q that “no one is free until we are all free.”
I'm a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s offensive when people say that by extending equality to all, it undermines their freedom as a person of faith.
What's actually an affront to my faith is when people are marginalized just because of their identity. — Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) October 16, 2020
In the same interview, Warnock expressed his support for the Equality Act, proposed legislation that would add LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections into federal law.
[Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter and get expert takes on today’s news, every day.]
Historic victories and challenges ahead
LGBTQ Americans vote heavily Democratic. In 2008, John McCain won 27% of the LGBTQ vote while running for president against Barack Obama. In 2012, Mitt Romney won 22% of the LGBTQ vote. And in 2016, nationwide exit poll data of LGBTQ voters shows that Donald Trump received roughly 14% of the LGBTQ vote.
Harvey Milk, the late San Francisco city councilman, is often incorrectly cited as the first openly LGBTQ elected official. That pioneer was actually Kathy Kozachenko, who at age 21 won a seat on the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan in 1974.
Human Rights Party records / Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
Nearly 50 years later, LGBTQ candidates have made historic strides in political representation. In 2017, there were under 450 openly LGBTQ elected officials in the entire U.S. Over 150 LGBTQ candidates won elections at the federal, state and local levels in the 2018 midterm elections. Another “rainbow wave” came in 2019, bringing the total number of openly LGBTQ American elected officials to just under 700.
Social acceptance of LGBTQ people is growing too, with over 70% of Americans saying transgender people should be protected from discrimination, according to polling by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, and a similar percentage supporting marriage equality. That has translated into ever more openly LGBTQ candidates running for office – and winning.
Timothy R. Bussey, Associate Director for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Kenyon College
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Orange Julius Caesar's Reign Is Over!

Orange Julius Caesar's Reign Is Over!

The streets of every city and town in America erupted on Saturday morning when the networks ( finally ) announced that America had fired Donald Trump .
I think Senator Bernie Sanders said it best : “ To be honest with you , I haven ’ t been sleeping so well lately .
I was very worried about four more years of Trump .
It appears that that is not going to be the case , so I feel exhilarated .
I feel relieved.
” Trump himself was at one of his personal golf properties grifting off the taxpayers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was quarantined with COVID after having spent the week in the White House wantonly spreading his precious bodily aerosols all over the staff .
His devoted henchman Rudy Giuliani was holding a press conference next door to a sex shop called Fantasy Island .
What a long , strange trip it 's been .
And it 's not over yet , unfortunately .
The normal people immediately started celebrating , as one might expect .
Cheers went up simultaneously all over the world .
The 70 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since they have been brainwashed by right wing media into believing it was n't even possible .
But there are a lot of them and I expect they will find their voices soon enough .
And the silence of GOP officials in the wake of the results being announced says that Trump may have lost the election but he has n't lost his hold on the GOP .
So far , Mitch `` grim reaper '' McConnell is keeping his powder dry .
As of now he holds the Senate but the massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) has given Democrats one last chance to take his majority away from him .
Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff < /strong > will have another chance to remove the corrupt Trump bootlickers David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler from the US Senate in January .
Neither one of those odious reprobates were able to get above 50 % so there will be a runoff .
And we all know the stakes could not be higher .
These will be the most consequential Senate races in history .
It is the difference between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Mitch McConnell successfully furthering the destruction of America , which seems to be his only goal in life .
Any hope of passing the progressive legislation we desperately need to deal with the carnage left in Trump 's wake will be thwarted by this misanthropic monster .
So our work is not done .
Blue America has set up an ActBlue donation page for the two challengers for one last campaign in this cycle -- if you would like to help secure a senate majority and a progressive agenda for the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give what you can .
Having Biden and Harris in the White House will stop the bleeding but this country needs major surgery and we ca n't do it with the Grim Reaper standing in the way .
If you have any more to spare , we would encourage you to help Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff win their runoffs in January .
And take a moment to let relief and joy wash over you : our long national nightmare is over .
Donald Trump has been defeated !
Thank you all so @ @ @ @ @

The streets of every city and town in America erupted on Saturday morning when the networks (finally) announced that America had fired Donald Trump. I think Senator Bernie Sanders said it best:
“To be honest with you, I haven’t been sleeping so well lately. I was very worried about four more years of Trump. It appears that that is not going to be the case, so I feel exhilarated. I feel relieved.”
Trump himself was at one of his personal golf properties grifting off the taxpayers as usual when the race was called. The Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was quarantined with COVID after having spent the week in the White House wantonly spreading his precious bodily aerosols all over the staff. His devoted henchman Rudy Giuliani was holding a press conference next door to a sex shop called Fantasy Island.
What a long, strange trip it's been. And it's not over yet, unfortunately.
The normal people immediately started celebrating, as one might expect. Cheers went up simultaneously all over the world. The 70 million Trumpers seemed to be momentarily stunned, since they have been brainwashed by right wing media into believing it wasn't even possible. But there are a lot of them and I expect they will find their voices soon enough.
And the silence of GOP officials in the wake of the results being announced says that Trump may have lost the election but he hasn't lost his hold on the GOP.
So far, Mitch "grim reaper" McConnell is keeping his powder dry. As of now he holds the Senate but the massive Georgia turnout (thanks Stacey Abrams!) has given Democrats one last chance to take his majority away from him.
Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff will have another chance to remove the corrupt Trump bootlickers David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler from the US Senate in January. Neither one of those odious reprobates were able to get above 50% so there will be a runoff. And we all know the stakes could not be higher.
Credit: Screengrab
These will be the most consequential Senate races in history . It is the difference between Democrats having control of the Senate agenda or Mitch McConnell successfully furthering the destruction of America, which seems to be his only goal in life. Any hope of passing the progressive legislation we desperately need to deal with the carnage left in Trump's wake will be thwarted by this misanthropic monster.
So our work is not done.
Blue America has set up an ActBlue donation page for the two challengers for one last campaign in this cycle-- if you would like to help secure a senate majority and a progressive agenda for the next two years. Tap the thermometer and give what you can.
Having Biden and Harris in the White House will stop the bleeding but this country needs major surgery and we can't do it with the Grim Reaper standing in the way.
If you have any more to spare, we would encourage you to help Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff win their runoffs in January.
And take a moment to let relief and joy wash over you: our long national nightmare is over. Donald Trump has been defeated!
Thank you all so much for your generosity.
Heather "Digby" Parton, for the entire Blue America team


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Reminder: Comments Change To New System Monday

It 's that time !
We waited until after the election and Joe Biden was cemented as President-elect , but @ @ @ @ @ make the switch to our new commenting system with Insticator .
You will need to @ @ @ @ @ it .
You can still sign into the site , but you 'll still need @ @ @ @ @ If you have any problems , you can reach us through the support link and @ @ @ @ @ the site too .
Change is coming , not just to the country , but @ @ @ @ @ And we are here for it .

It's that time! We waited until after the election and Joe Biden was cemented as President-elect, but now it's time to make the switch to our new commenting system with Insticator.
You will need to sign up once to use it. You can still sign into the site, but you'll still need a sign-in with Insticator. If you have any problems, you can reach us through the support link and there will be staff monitoring the site too.
Change is coming, not just to the country, but also C&L. And we are here for it.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Fun With Venn Diagrams! Guess Who's In The Center?

C & L Editor Emeritus , Nicolle Belle noticed this is n't entirely accurate , because Ford maybe should n't @ @ @ @ @ never won an election , and LBJ should be in there , since he did @ @ @ @ @ you get the idea .

C&L Editor Emeritus, Nicolle Belle noticed this isn't entirely accurate, because Ford maybe shouldn't be in there since he never won an election, and LBJ should be in there, since he did win one term...but you get the idea.
(Attribution for above diagram is unknown, but if you find out, let us know in the comments!)
Open Thread below...


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Melania Trump Reportedly Tells Husband To Accept Defeat: ‘The Time Has Come’

First Lady Melania Trump is the latest person in President Donald Trump ’ s orbit to encourage him to accept @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 presidential election .
A source close to the first lady confirmed that she @ @ @ @ @ up the fight , according to CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz .
“ First Lady Melania @ @ @ @ @ chorus of President Trump ’ s inner circle advising him the time has come for @ @ @ @ @ , a source familiar with the conversations tells CNN , ” Prokupecz revealed on Twitter @

First Lady Melania Trump is the latest person in President Donald Trump’s orbit to encourage him to accept the reality of defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
A source close to the first lady confirmed that she has advised Trump to give up the fight, according to CNN correspondent Shimon Prokupecz.
“First Lady Melania Trump has joined the growing chorus of President Trump’s inner circle advising him the time has come for him to accept the loss, a source familiar with the conversations tells CNN,” Prokupecz revealed on Twitter.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Chris Wallace: Ted Cruz Is Like A Japanese Soldier Who Is Fighting A War That's Over

Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday compared Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) to a Japanese soldier who thinks @ @ @ @ @ still going on '' because he refuses to accept the presidential election results .
`` @ @ @ @ @ that Republicans on Capitol Hill have a role to play in this , '' Wallace @ @ @ @ @ Sunday program .
`` A very few of them have said , look , you @ @ @ @ @ , you know , damp down the rhetoric , like Mitt Romney , like Pat @ @ @ @ @ are a lot who are just silent , '' the Fox News host noted .
@ @ @ @ @ some -- I mentioned Ted Cruz -- who are like the Japanese soldiers who come @ @ @ @ @ war -- out of the jungle -- and say , 'Is the fight still going @ @ @ @ @ is on record supporting President Donald Trump 's baseless claims of voter fraud .

Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday compared Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to a Japanese soldier who thinks World War II is "still going on" because he refuses to accept the presidential election results.
"It would seem to me that Republicans on Capitol Hill have a role to play in this," Wallace explained on his Fox News Sunday program. "A very few of them have said, look, you pursue your legal options but, you know, damp down the rhetoric, like Mitt Romney, like Pat Toomey."
"There are a lot who are just silent," the Fox News host noted. "And then there are some -- I mentioned Ted Cruz -- who are like the Japanese soldiers who come out 30 years after the war -- out of the jungle -- and say, 'Is the fight still going on?'"
Cruz is on record supporting President Donald Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Neil Cavuto Cuts Kayleigh McEnany Off When She Lies About 'Illegal Votes'

Fox News host Neil Cavuto cut off White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany for lying on the air .
The theme of the post-election angst from Trump and his minions is that there are `` legal '' votes and `` illegal '' votes , when there are only votes .
This is all messaging to drive aggrieved Trump supporters to give more money to Trump because he is making them feel as though they are victims of the Democrats .
It is also all lies .
Kayleigh McEnany , in her role as White House Press Secretary , opened right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's campaign with the `` legal and illegal votes '' nonsense .
Cavuto jumped in , cutting off her audio and turning to the audience .
“ Whoa , whoa , whoa .
I just think we have to be very clear : she ’ s charging the other side as welcoming fraud and illegal voting , '' he told the audience .
`` Unless she has more details to back that up , I can ’ t in good countenance continue to show you this.
” It looks to me like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crap Trump and his minions are feeding viewers .
Check out Sandra Smith 's reaction when Trace Gallagher starts sucking up to the wounded Trumpers .
Steve Schmidt puts an exclamation point on it :

Fox News host Neil Cavuto cut off White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany for lying on the air.
The theme of the post-election angst from Trump and his minions is that there are "legal" votes and "illegal" votes, when there are only votes. This is all messaging to drive aggrieved Trump supporters to give more money to Trump because he is making them feel as though they are victims of the Democrats. It is also all lies.
Kayleigh McEnany, in her role as White House Press Secretary, opened right up with a lie on behalf of Trump's campaign with the "legal and illegal votes" nonsense.
Cavuto jumped in, cutting off her audio and turning to the audience.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I just think we have to be very clear: she’s charging the other side as welcoming fraud and illegal voting," he told the audience. "Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue to show you this.”
It looks to me like Fox News hosts are fed up with the crap Trump and his minions are feeding viewers. Check out Sandra Smith's reaction when Trace Gallagher starts sucking up to the wounded Trumpers.
Sandra Smith, off-air, reacts to her colleague Trace Gallagher indulging a nutjob who denies the outcome of the election even after Fox News had called it for Joe Biden: pic.twitter.com/gZ4nrnVHab — Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 9, 2020
Steve Schmidt puts an exclamation point on it:


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Ben Carson Tests Positive For COVID

Ben Carson Tests Positive For COVID

After attending a White House election night party , Trump 's HUD Secretary Ben Carson tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ we not surprised ?
Last week Trump 's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows revealed he @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's Election Night party without a mask and glad-handing everyone .
The Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ , coughing , spewing incubation and infectious operation of COVID19 , and Ben Carson is @ @ @ @ @ hubris and serial disregard of CDC guidelines .
Nobody 's health matters in this country @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
To hell with the safety of his own people as well as @ @ @ @ @ We still do n't know how many other Trump officials , supporters , and surrogates @ @ @ @ @ continually lie and obfuscate the truth from the American people , much less those from @ @ @ @

After attending a White House election night party, Trump's HUD Secretary Ben Carson tested positive for the coronavirus Monday morning.
Why are we not surprised?
Last week Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows revealed he had COVID after going to Trump's Election Night party without a mask and glad-handing everyone.
The Trump administration is a walking, breathing, coughing, spewing incubation and infectious operation of COVID19, and Ben Carson is the latest victim of their hubris and serial disregard of CDC guidelines.
Nobody's health matters in this country except for the re-election of Donald Trump. To hell with the safety of his own people as well as the rest of America.
We still don't know how many other Trump officials, supporters, and surrogates have been infected since they continually lie and obfuscate the truth from the American people, much less those from his superspreader rallies.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Trump Fires Defense Secretary In A Tweet

In a desperate bid for attention , Donald Trump pulled the plug on Defense Secretary Mark Esper Monday morning via tweet .
Poor guy needed someone to say he 's still a powerful man , even as his power wanes away and he faces numerous legal battles in states he ca n't avoid .
Esper and Trump have been at odds for awhile , and Esper was reported to have prepared a letter of resignation after the election , but Trump just wanted the petty joy of firing him because he could .
Interestingly , Esper 's successor should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts , but instead the Senate-confirmed Acting Deputy Defense Secretary .
Esper broke with Trump in June when he refused to call out the military to quell protests and racial unrest .
His willingness to rename military bases which were named after confederate generals was the last petty straw .
And as Julia Ioffe notes , the bull in a china shop is thrashing about .
To which Charlie Pierce notes , quite correctly : I 'm sure there will be more of this .
Trump , like other Republicans before him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it off to the Democrat .

In a desperate bid for attention, Donald Trump pulled the plug on Defense Secretary Mark Esper Monday morning via tweet.
...Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020
Poor guy needed someone to say he's still a powerful man, even as his power wanes away and he faces numerous legal battles in states he can't avoid.
Esper and Trump have been at odds for awhile, and Esper was reported to have prepared a letter of resignation after the election, but Trump just wanted the petty joy of firing him because he could.
Interestingly, Esper's successor should not be Christopher Miller, according to several experts, but instead the Senate-confirmed Acting Deputy Defense Secretary.
There’s currently a Senate-confirmed Deputy Secretary of Defense — David Norquist. Under 10 U.S.C. § 132(b), *he* is supposed to become Acting Secretary in the event of a vacancy.
Unless Trump fired him, too. pic.twitter.com/sZNlwq0SGG — Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) November 9, 2020
Esper broke with Trump in June when he refused to call out the military to quell protests and racial unrest. His willingness to rename military bases which were named after confederate generals was the last petty straw. And as Julia Ioffe notes, the bull in a china shop is thrashing about.
Esper has been fired. Trump was always a bull in a china shop, but now he’s a mortally wounded bull that has two months to break the little that’s left of the china. He will. — Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) November 9, 2020
To which Charlie Pierce notes, quite correctly:
He's also going to lay waste to the crematorium and the sex shop next door. — Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) November 9, 2020
I'm sure there will be more of this. Trump, like other Republicans before him, will burn it all down before handing it off to the Democrat.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Michele Bachmann Prays On Her Cellphone Camera For Election Reversal

We 've got freedom of religion in the US , so let 's not criticize anyone praying for the leading @ @ @ @ @ these perilous times .
Except for Michele Bachmann , crazypants ex-Congresswoman from Minnesota , pretending @ @ @ @ @ of this election and launch herself into relevancy with a prayer into her cellphone camera @ @ @ @ @ and in my opinion best `` Bad Lip Reading '' was Michele Bachmann NINE years @ @ @ @ @ this audio makes as much sense as her smashing clay jars `` prayer . ''
@ @

We've got freedom of religion in the US, so let's not criticize anyone praying for the leading of a Higher Power in these perilous times.
Except for Michele Bachmann, crazypants ex-Congresswoman from Minnesota, pretending she can reverse the results of this election and launch herself into relevancy with a prayer into her cellphone camera.
It's crazy how many people record themselves praying. Pretty sure the Bible literally says to do the opposite. — Melvin Kim (@Meljkim) November 9, 2020
If she's so motivated by the spirit, why's she having to read this? — Keltia Breton (@KeltiaB) November 9, 2020
Is this the same Michelle Bachmann who "retired" from Congress during an ongoing campaign finance investigation against her? — Dr. Johnny Bananas 🍌 (@tevetorbes) November 9, 2020
Never forget the first and in my opinion best "Bad Lip Reading" was Michele Bachmann NINE years ago. And yes, this audio makes as much sense as her smashing clay jars "prayer." Amen!


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Rudy Giuliani Hosted A Convicted Sex Offender As Witness To 'Voter Fraud' In PA

You 've probably heard by now that over the weekend , Rudy Giuliani held a kangaroo press conference at the Four Seasons landscaping company ( not the hotel ) .
After ranting about a `` stolen election , '' the first person he brought up to `` testify '' about supposed voter fraud was ... a convicted sex offender from NJ .
Only the best people .
After venting for about eight minutes , Giuliani said , `` Let 's start off first -- he waved - `` just tell briefly what happened to you , who you are and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it us . ''
A tall black man came to the makeshift podium and said , `` I 'm Darrell Brooks . ''
He claimed to be a Philadelphia resident of about two years .
Brooks complained that as a poll watcher he was made to stand 20 feet away and yada , yada , yada ... Brooks said , `` They did not allow us to see anything .
Was it corrupt or not ?
But give us an opportunity as poll watchers to view all the documents — all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bemusement as Brooks took the podium.Brooks was incarcerated in the 1990s on charges of sexual assault , lewdness and endangering the welfare of a minor for exposing himself to two girls ages 7 and 11 , according to news accounts .
Brooks has run for various offices , including U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives .
The chaos and disorganization - even where this kangaroo press conference was supposed to be held , is symptomatic of the Trump administration and Rudy Giuliani 's involvement in it .
But by bringing on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tops the cake of insanity .

You've probably heard by now that over the weekend, Rudy Giuliani held a kangaroo press conference at the Four Seasons landscaping company (not the hotel).
Kudos to the 2020 writers for dropping in the Pfizer vaccine news a week after the election, and having Rudy Giuliani stuck in a parking lot at Four Seasons Total Landscaping having a true Selina Meyer moment between a sex shop and a crematorium. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) November 9, 2020
After ranting about a "stolen election," the first person he brought up to "testify" about supposed voter fraud was... a convicted sex offender from NJ.
Only the best people.
After venting for about eight minutes, Giuliani said, "Let's start off first -- he waved - "just tell briefly what happened to you, who you are and what happened to you like you described it us."
A tall black man came to the makeshift podium and said, "I'm Darrell Brooks." He claimed to be a Philadelphia resident of about two years. Brooks complained that as a poll watcher he was made to stand 20 feet away and yada, yada, yada...
Brooks said, "They did not allow us to see anything. Was it corrupt or not? But give us an opportunity as poll watchers to view all the documents — all of the ballots.”
Politico then broke this news:
Trenton political insiders watched with bemusement as Brooks took the podium.Brooks was incarcerated in the 1990s on charges of sexual assault, lewdness and endangering the welfare of a minor for exposing himself to two girls ages 7 and 11, according to news accounts. Brooks has run for various offices, including U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
I thought QAnon didn't like pedophiles?
The chaos and disorganization - even where this kangaroo press conference was supposed to be held, is symptomatic of the Trump administration and Rudy Giuliani's involvement in it.
But by bringing on a sex offender who exposed himself to children tops the cake of insanity.
I truly sympathize with those dealing with losing — it’s not easy — but at a certain point one has to think not only about what’s best for the nation (peaceful transfer of power) but how any future employers might see your character defined during adversity. — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 9, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--'Concede And Get The Hell Out': Anger Grows As Trump Refuses To Admit Defeat

Mixing with the jubilation shared by tens of millions across the U.S. and the world generated by President-elect Joe Biden 's declared victory this weekend , increasing levels of anger and frustration were voiced Sunday as President Donald Trump continued his refusal to accept the election results that show he was soundly defeated .
`` The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy .
`` Even as Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered acceptance speeches Saturday night , Trump bucked the tradition of congratulating the winners and instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he `` won the election '' and making evidence-free allegations of fraud .
Trump so far has refused to accept the election results , waging a legal strategy to contest them in courts and issuing false allegations of fraud .
There are currently no plans to invite Biden to the Oval Office for the traditional meeting between the incoming and outgoing presidents , a historic sign of the peaceful transfer of power .
Aides instead are working to craft ways for the President to feel validated even in loss , including through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and falsely that he won the election , sources say Trump is not denying the outcome privately .
And two people said Jared Kushner , the President 's son-in-law and senior adviser who oversaw his campaign from the White House , has approached Trump about conceding the election .
On Sunday , as the lies and deceit by the president continued , many Trump critics began to lose their patience .
`` It is obscene for a president of the United States to talk of a stolen election when he has not put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , '' said Steven Greenhouse , former labor reporter for the New York Times in a Sunday morning tweet .
`` The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy . ''
Stephen King , the famed novelist and an avowed Democrat , was even more blunt in his proclamation .
`` You lost , you miserable self-entitled infantile fucker , '' King declared .
`` Concede and get the hell out . ''
In a letter to editor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.K. said he fears that Trump 's `` disputing of the validity of the election result is much more insidious than him simply being a bad loser . ''
Dorey wrote : By repeatedly denouncing the accuracy of the outcome , even before it has been confirmed , [ Trump ] is giving his supporters a green light to spend the next four years blatantly defying a Biden government , and generally causing public mayhem , on the grounds that the Democrats `` stole '' the election from Trump , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic authority of mandate .
As such , I fear that mass protests , the occupation of public buildings , and intimidation ( especially of black communities ) by gun-toting Trump supporters , will become a routine occurrence , justified on the grounds that ignoring the `` undemocratic '' Biden government is the duty of true `` American patriots . ''
If tough punitive action is taken against them , they will claim that democracy and liberty are being suppressed by `` radical leftists '' in Washington .
But if their mayhem is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and order is being undermined due a weak government in thrall to `` political correctness '' and `` snowflake liberals . ''
Ahead of Biden being declared the projected winner by nearly every major news outlet in the country on Saturday , his campaign spokeperson Andrew Bates on Friday said their team was not ultimately worried if Trump—when defeated—refused to leave the White House voluntarily .
`` The United States government , '' said Bates , `` is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House . ''

Mixing with the jubilation shared by tens of millions across the U.S. and the world generated by President-elect Joe Biden's declared victory this weekend, increasing levels of anger and frustration were voiced Sunday as President Donald Trump continued his refusal to accept the election results that show he was soundly defeated.
"The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy."Even as Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered acceptance speeches Saturday night, Trump bucked the tradition of congratulating the winners and instead spent the evening tweeting out false claims that he "won the election" and making evidence-free allegations of fraud.
As CNN reports:
Trump so far has refused to accept the election results, waging a legal strategy to contest them in courts and issuing false allegations of fraud. There are currently no plans to invite Biden to the Oval Office for the traditional meeting between the incoming and outgoing presidents, a historic sign of the peaceful transfer of power. Aides instead are working to craft ways for the President to feel validated even in loss, including through more rallies. But after claiming publicly and falsely that he won the election, sources say Trump is not denying the outcome privately. And two people said Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and senior adviser who oversaw his campaign from the White House, has approached Trump about conceding the election.
On Sunday, as the lies and deceit by the president continued, many Trump critics began to lose their patience.
"It is obscene for a president of the United States to talk of a stolen election when he has not put up any meaningful evidence of anyone stealing the election," said Steven Greenhouse, former labor reporter for the New York Times in a Sunday morning tweet. "The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy."
Stephen King, the famed novelist and an avowed Democrat, was even more blunt in his proclamation. "You lost, you miserable self-entitled infantile fucker," King declared. "Concede and get the hell out."
You lost, you miserable self-entitled infantile fucker. Concede and get the hell out. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 8, 2020
In a letter to editor at the Guardian on Sunday, reader Pete Dorey in the U.K. said he fears that Trump's "disputing of the validity of the election result is much more insidious than him simply being a bad loser." Dorey wrote:
By repeatedly denouncing the accuracy of the outcome, even before it has been confirmed, [Trump] is giving his supporters a green light to spend the next four years blatantly defying a Biden government, and generally causing public mayhem, on the grounds that the Democrats "stole" the election from Trump, and that the new government thus has no democratic authority of mandate. As such, I fear that mass protests, the occupation of public buildings, and intimidation (especially of black communities) by gun-toting Trump supporters, will become a routine occurrence, justified on the grounds that ignoring the "undemocratic" Biden government is the duty of true "American patriots." If tough punitive action is taken against them, they will claim that democracy and liberty are being suppressed by "radical leftists" in Washington. But if their mayhem is ignored, they will claim that law and order is being undermined due a weak government in thrall to "political correctness" and "snowflake liberals." Or am I just paranoid?
Ahead of Biden being declared the projected winner by nearly every major news outlet in the country on Saturday, his campaign spokeperson Andrew Bates on Friday said their team was not ultimately worried if Trump—when defeated—refused to leave the White House voluntarily.
"The United States government," said Bates, "is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jon Queally, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Mike Pence Lies About Pfizer Vaccine, Claims Credit For The Trump Administration

As soon as this bald-faced lie came out on Twitter , Pfizer officials were asked what Pence was talking about @ @ @ @ @ taken any government money to work on a vaccine .
Pfizer , rightly , refused @ @ @ @ @ administration .
Vice President Mike Pence , the Coronavirus Task Force chief , and former @ @ @ @ @ are under fire for trying to give credit for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to President @ @ @ @ @ House 's `` Operation War Speed . ''
Pfizer announced Monday morning its coronavirus vaccine @ @ @ @ @ The pharmaceutical giant refused to partner with the Trump administration to develop the drug , @ @ @ @ @ German group .
And a reminder from Pfizer 's CEO about why they refused the @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Nikki Haley also tried to claim credit for the Trump administration .
It @ @ @ @ @ so brazenly , but that they 're so stupid about it .
Immediate jeers all @ @ @ @ @ know-nothings .

As soon as this bald-faced lie came out on Twitter, Pfizer officials were asked what Pence was talking about, as they hadn't taken any government money to work on a vaccine. Pfizer, rightly, refused to work with the Trump administration.
Source: Alternet
Vice President Mike Pence, the Coronavirus Task Force chief, and former Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are under fire for trying to give credit for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to President Donald Trump and the White House's "Operation War Speed." Pfizer announced Monday morning its coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective. The pharmaceutical giant refused to partner with the Trump administration to develop the drug, instead it worked with a German group.
HUGE NEWS: Thanks to the public-private partnership forged by President @realDonaldTrump, @pfizer announced its Coronavirus Vaccine trial is EFFECTIVE, preventing infection in 90% of its volunteers. — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 9, 2020
Pfizer's Dr. Jansen sought to distance the company from Operation Warp Speed and presidential politics, noting that the company did not take any federal money to help pay for research and development.
“We were never part of the Warp Speed,” she said. https://t.co/baknu0iOtd — Virginia Hughes (@virginiahughes) November 9, 2020
And a reminder from Pfizer's CEO about why they refused the Trump administration's "help".
ICYMI: Why is @Pfizer financing #Covid19 #vaccine development on its own - instead of accepting government funding? $PFE CEO Albert Bourla says “I wanted to liberate our scientists from any bureaucracy. When you get money from someone...that always comes with strings.” pic.twitter.com/t2IQPP9Wn4 — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 13, 2020
Nikki Haley also tried to claim credit for the Trump administration.
The news about the @pfizer vaccine being 90% effective is great news for the American people! Many thanks to @realDonaldTrump and Operation Warp Speed. This will be one of the most important action items done by the administration in response to this pandemic. ❤🇺🇸#USStrong — Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 9, 2020
It's not just that lie so brazenly, but that they're so stupid about it.
Immediate jeers all around for this bunch of know-nothings.
And, as Pence claims credit, Trump administration is refusing to sign off on transition which a source says could also slow down the development & distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.
So not only did Pfizer not join Trump's Operation Warp Speed, they could be slowed by Trump. https://t.co/JMisMU20iT — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 9, 2020
fact check:
- Pfizer was not part of Operation Warp Speed
- Pfizer took no government money
- Trump has nothing to do with this
- neither do you
- Trump still lost
- you did, too
- pack your bags and get out of Kamala Harris's house — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) November 9, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--Pfizer: New Covid Vaccine Was 90% Effective In Early Analysis

If these numbers hold up , this is wonderful news .
I just want to point out that this is @ @ @ @ @ took federal money to be part of Trump 's Operation Warp Speed .
Via Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE prevented more than 90 % of infections in @ @ @ @ @ thousands of volunteers , the most encouraging scientific advance so far in the battle against @ @ @ @ @ into the worst pandemic in a century , the preliminary results pave the way for @ @ @ @ @ emergency-use authorization from regulators if further research shows the shot is also safe .
Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ trading , rising about 15 % , with BioNTech American depositary receipts up about 22 @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 500 billion to the value of the MSCI All Country World Index @

If these numbers hold up, this is wonderful news. I just want to point out that this is more credible because Pfizer never took federal money to be part of Trump's Operation Warp Speed. Via Bloomberg:
The Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE prevented more than 90% of infections in a study of tens of thousands of volunteers, the most encouraging scientific advance so far in the battle against the coronavirus.
Eight months into the worst pandemic in a century, the preliminary results pave the way for the companies to seek an emergency-use authorization from regulators if further research shows the shot is also safe.
Pfizer shares extended gains in premarket trading, rising about 15%, with BioNTech American depositary receipts up about 22%. The news added more than $500 billion to the value of the MSCI All Country World Index.


crooksandliars--2020-11-09--While Philadelphians Celebrated, Election Officials Got Death Threats

Al Schmidt , a Philadelphia city election commissioner , talked to 60 Minutes ' Bill Whitaker last night about what it 's like getting death threats and facing armed attempts to shot up the election office for doing nothing more than counting the ballots .
As a Republican , he 's baffled as to why his party 's leaders are ginning up their `` stolen election '' conspiracy theories .
Via Mediaite : “ From the inside looking out , it feels all very deranged , ” said an incredulous Schmidt .
“ At the end of the day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters .
The controversy surrounding it is something I don ’ t understand .
It ’ s people making accusations that we wouldn ’ t count those votes , or people are adding fraudulent votes or just , coming up with , just , all sorts of crazy stuff.
” Whitaker asked him if they were being accused of cheating or manipulating the vote , which he confirmed .
Schmidt continued , saying that they were getting “ calls to our offices reminding us that ‘ This is what the Second Amendment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s — a not so veiled death threat , ” said Whitaker .

Al Schmidt, a Philadelphia city election commissioner, talked to 60 Minutes' Bill Whitaker last night about what it's like getting death threats and facing armed attempts to shot up the election office for doing nothing more than counting the ballots. As a Republican, he's baffled as to why his party's leaders are ginning up their "stolen election" conspiracy theories. Via Mediaite:
“From the inside looking out, it feels all very deranged,” said an incredulous Schmidt. “At the end of the day, we are counting eligible votes cast by voters. The controversy surrounding it is something I don’t understand. It’s people making accusations that we wouldn’t count those votes, or people are adding fraudulent votes or just, coming up with, just, all sorts of crazy stuff.”
Whitaker asked him if they were being accused of cheating or manipulating the vote, which he confirmed. Schmidt continued, saying that they were getting “calls to our offices reminding us that ‘This is what the Second Amendment is for,’ people like us.”
“That’s — a not so veiled death threat,” said Whitaker.
“Yes, for counting votes in a democracy,” replied Schmidt.


crooksandliars--2020-11-10--Trump Is Trying To Pull Off A Coup With His Claims Of Election Fraud

Maybe Trump is n't actually planning a coup , but things are looking kind of coup-ish right now .
Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper yesterday .
Other than his usual petulance , why ?
We know Trump and his enablers are desperate for Trump to retain power .
His apparent game plan is to get Republican state legislators in Pennsylvania , Georgia , Wisconsin , Michigan or Arizona to submit a competing slate of electors to Congress for the Electoral College vote that takes place the first week of December .
Now , Pennsylvania GOP legislators have said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ca n't do it -- our Democratic governor would veto it .
But if there 's one thing we 've learned , it 's that `` legal '' does n't matter when it comes to Republicans .
Will he somehow bully the state legislators into causing an actual rupture by insisting they can ?
He 's trying .
If there 's another thing we 've learned , it 's that Republicans do not know how to say no to Trump .
They never have .
I 'm not alone in my concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the case : The stories about how Trump insiders are trying to get him to concede remind me of inept parents trying to `` explain '' to little Dylan why he ca n't wear his Star Wars costume to school : And Moscow Mitch is going along : HOWEVER .
Our allies have accepted Joe Biden as the actual winner of the election .
The media refers to him as the president-elect .
And even some Republicans are acknowledging the inevitable : And Trump now looks as though he 's planning for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So we 're not at the point of an actual coup .
Trump is probably not competent enough to pull one off .
But the real danger is how many of his supporters believe his lies about a stolen election , and not enough Republicans are standing up to his lies .

Maybe Trump isn't actually planning a coup, but things are looking kind of coup-ish right now.
Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper yesterday. Other than his usual petulance, why?
Remember that Chris Miller, the new acting defense secretary, effectively leapfrogged five ranks and over dozens of others to take over the Pentagon, even though there is a confirmed deputy SecDef. It’s worth asking: Why? What does Miller offer that no one else would? — Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) November 10, 2020
The man who now becomes the acting Secretary of Defense - Chris Miller - refused to promise that intelligence agencies wouldn’t target Americans based on their political views. https://t.co/Dd4aqJFdAe — Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) November 9, 2020
We know Trump and his enablers are desperate for Trump to retain power. His apparent game plan is to get Republican state legislators in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan or Arizona to submit a competing slate of electors to Congress for the Electoral College vote that takes place the first week of December.
The latest Trump campaign PA lawsuit is asking the court to issue an emergency order stopping officials from certifying the election results, and a permanent injunction requiring county election boards to invalidate ballots of voters who were allowed to "cure" their mail ballots — Hilary Beaumont (@HilaryBeaumont) November 9, 2020
Now, Pennsylvania GOP legislators have said they won't do it. Legally, they can't do it -- our Democratic governor would veto it. But if there's one thing we've learned, it's that "legal" doesn't matter when it comes to Republicans. Will he somehow bully the state legislators into causing an actual rupture by insisting they can? He's trying.
If there's another thing we've learned, it's that Republicans do not know how to say no to Trump. They never have.
I'm not alone in my concern:
“What if the demagoguery about election fraud and the sophistry about the prerogatives of state legislatures is repeated over and over for four weeks by Trump and his surrogates, and isn’t refuted by many, if any, prominent conservatives and Republicans?” https://t.co/E7FjQcbPPb — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 10, 2020
If we saw the head of the ruling regime, and his party, react to the election results this way in any other country, we'd know exactly what we are looking at.
And I'd say here, too, it's time to be honest and say we know exactly what we are looking at. https://t.co/aLQetMNmjR — Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) November 9, 2020
Some Republican electeds genuinely believe the election was stolen. They’re lost to Q’anon. Others cosplaying coup d’etat to appease the base. Others legit committed to overturning the will of the voters. Scary part: it’s getting hard to tell who falls into which category. — Joshua Zeitz (@JoshuaMZeitz) November 10, 2020
Trump’s coup attempt is very real — but there are several gaping holes in the planhttps://t.co/MNWmDHUZFI — Raw Story (@RawStory) November 10, 2020
But PA AG Josh Shapiro is on the case:
(NOT) BREAKING:
The Trump campaign’s latest filing is another attempt to throw out legal votes — my team and I were already prepared for this.
😴 Sleep tight. We will protect the laws of our Commonwealth and the will of the people. — Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 10, 2020
The stories about how Trump insiders are trying to get him to concede remind me of inept parents trying to "explain" to little Dylan why he can't wear his Star Wars costume to school:
“If you can get him [Trump] somehow to see that it’s in his best interest you might get him to do the right thing for the party and the country,” @jheil says how Pres. Trump’s inner circle can convince him to accept the election results. https://t.co/30QlELRLTa — MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 10, 2020
And Moscow Mitch is going along:
McConnell, later pressed by reporters, declined to answer when asked to produce evidence of fraud that would overturn the election results. https://t.co/qWZvKfYAly — Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) November 10, 2020
So is Bill Barr:
JUST IN: DOJ's Top Voter Fraud Investigator Steps Down in Protest After AG Bill Barr Memo's Authorizing Election Probeshttps://t.co/AGjV1YWfJv — Mediaite (@Mediaite) November 10, 2020
Pilger threw himself on his sword to alert us all as to how dangerous Barr's authorization is. He could have waited out the last 60+ days of Trump, but the policy signals to Trump's minions Barr's willingness to toss out the rule of law. https://t.co/R55vtyMlku — Mary Beth "Reform Fed Courts" Williams (@wampumpeag) November 10, 2020
Barr authorizing federal prosecutors to investigate
non-existent election fraud suggests only one thing:
Trump has not yet delivered Bill Barr his much-needed pardon. — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) November 10, 2020
HOWEVER. Our allies have accepted Joe Biden as the actual winner of the election. The media refers to him as the president-elect. The Washington Nationals have invited him to throw out next season's first pitch:
Nats invite President-elect Biden to toss 1st pitch https://t.co/U7BhNfyUEn — Suburban Guerrilla Ω (@SusieMadrak) November 10, 2020
And even some Republicans are acknowledging the inevitable:
Rubio and Romney were the only ones to tell us today that the GSA should start cooperating with the Biden transition team. https://t.co/8xtLoq8V33 pic.twitter.com/Iwd01IElnu — Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 10, 2020
And Trump now looks as though he's planning for his life after the White House:
President Trump is planning to form a so-called leadership political action committee, a federal fund-raising vehicle that will potentially let him retain influence on the Republican Party even when he is out of office, officials said. https://t.co/7PIN5lmdBI — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 10, 2020
So we're not at the point of an actual coup. Trump is probably not competent enough to pull one off. But the real danger is how many of his supporters believe his lies about a stolen election, and not enough Republicans are standing up to his lies.