crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Scarborough: Even The Voters Who Don't Want Trump Removed Think He's Guilty

On today 's Morning Joe , Joe Scarborough pointed out Trump is still coasting on the good numbers from the ten-year recovery .
`` And the numbers just keep getting better for our economy , but for President Trump and this impeachment , the numbers actually are staying the same , or actually getting worse , '' he said .
`` We got this new poll coming out this morning that we 're going to talk about that actually shows still the majority of Americans think not only should he be impeached , but believe the president of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's something that did not happen for years with Nixon , until the very end . ''
`` It 's a fascinating time right now , '' Mika Brzezinski interjected .
`` Certainly , I do n't think Bill Clinton ever got into the 30s as far as being impeached and removed from office , '' he said .
`` This morning , the impeachment trial essentially begins , '' Brzezinski said .
`` As Joe said , just over half of Americans believe the Senate should vote to convict and remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at this .
According to the latest CNN/SSRS poll , 51 % believe Trump should be convicted and removed from office by the Senate .
Forty-five percent say he should not .
Sixty-nine percent say that the Senate impeachment trial should include testimony from new witnesses .
Twenty-six percent disagreed .
That 's an important number .
`` Broken down by party , those who agree with allowing new witnesses to testify include 86 % of Democrats , 69 % of independents , and 48 % of Republicans .
When asked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Americans said they believed Trump abused the powers of the presidency , and 57 % said Trump obstructed Congress .
How does this impact everything from election to the actual impeachment process , Joe ? ''
`` Well , it actually is -- again , we have a very small audience here , and those are the Republicans who actually might be interested in the facts of this case .
Might be interested in what their constituents are thinking in the United States Senate .
and the Senate is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe Republicans send up and line up blindly behind Donald Trump like Republicans in the House did .
Politically , for so many of those members of Congress , it made sense , because they 're in gerrymandered districts where Donald Trump is sitting enjoying a 60 % , 70 % , 80 % approval rating .
Not so in Arizona , in Colorado , in Maine , in most of these states , but Willie , these numbers , '' Scarborough said .
`` Actually , if you 're in one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're in any state , some of these numbers should send a real message to you if you 're a United States senator , and you 're trying to figure out whether you want there to be a fair and open trial , 51 % of Americans , as we saw in this poll a majority , still think Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office .
These other numbers , 69 % , almost seven in ten Americans , want more witnesses .
I mean , Mitch McConnell has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost that argument .
Donald Trump , most importantly , has lost that argument .
These numbers , devastating .
`` And almost six in ten Americans , Willie , believe that he obstructed the investigation , and believe that he abused his power .
Think about that .
Six in ten Americans .
Almost six in ten Americans think the president of the United States abused his power .
So , you know , we 've talked about this before , Willie , where you have people going , 'oh , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lying ?
How does he get away with saying the things that he says ?
Why are people so stupid ? '
They believe him when he lies -- that it was it a perfect -- they do n't believe him .
They know he 's lying .
They demand accountability .
`` The only question now is , will these United States Senators on the Republican side of the aisle listen ? ''
He 's right .
Republican senators are between a rock and a hard place .
When your enemy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

On today's Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough pointed out Trump is still coasting on the good numbers from the ten-year recovery.
"And the numbers just keep getting better for our economy, but for President Trump and this impeachment, the numbers actually are staying the same, or actually getting worse," he said.
"We got this new poll coming out this morning that we're going to talk about that actually shows still the majority of Americans think not only should he be impeached, but believe the president of the United States should be removed from office. That's something that did not happen for years with Nixon, until the very end."
"It's a fascinating time right now," Mika Brzezinski interjected.
"Certainly, I don't think Bill Clinton ever got into the 30s as far as being impeached and removed from office," he said.
"This morning, the impeachment trial essentially begins," Brzezinski said. "As Joe said, just over half of Americans believe the Senate should vote to convict and remove President Trump from office. Take a look at this. According to the latest CNN/SSRS poll, 51% believe Trump should be convicted and removed from office by the Senate. Forty-five percent say he should not. Sixty-nine percent say that the Senate impeachment trial should include testimony from new witnesses. Twenty-six percent disagreed. That's an important number.
"Broken down by party, those who agree with allowing new witnesses to testify include 86% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 48% of Republicans. When asked about the charges against President Trump, 58% of Americans said they believed Trump abused the powers of the presidency, and 57% said Trump obstructed Congress. How does this impact everything from election to the actual impeachment process, Joe?"
"Well, it actually is -- again, we have a very small audience here, and those are the Republicans who actually might be interested in the facts of this case. Might be interested in what their constituents are thinking in the United States Senate. and the Senate is going to be so different from the House. Maybe Republicans send up and line up blindly behind Donald Trump like Republicans in the House did. Politically, for so many of those members of Congress, it made sense, because they're in gerrymandered districts where Donald Trump is sitting enjoying a 60%, 70%, 80% approval rating. Not so in Arizona, in Colorado, in Maine, in most of these states, but Willie, these numbers," Scarborough said.
"Actually, if you're in one of these swing states -- actually, if you're in any state, some of these numbers should send a real message to you if you're a United States senator, and you're trying to figure out whether you want there to be a fair and open trial, 51% of Americans, as we saw in this poll a majority, still think Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office. These other numbers, 69%, almost seven in ten Americans, want more witnesses. I mean, Mitch McConnell has lost that argument. Lindsey Graham has lost that argument. Donald Trump, most importantly, has lost that argument. These numbers, devastating.
"And almost six in ten Americans, Willie, believe that he obstructed the investigation, and believe that he abused his power. Think about that. Six in ten Americans. Almost six in ten Americans think the president of the United States abused his power. So, you know, we've talked about this before, Willie, where you have people going, 'oh, my God. How does he get away with lying? How does he get away with saying the things that he says? Why are people so stupid?' They believe him when he lies -- that it was it a perfect -- they don't believe him. They know he's lying. They demand accountability.
"The only question now is, will these United States Senators on the Republican side of the aisle listen?"
He's right. Republican senators are between a rock and a hard place. When your enemy is drowning, throw him an anvil.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Neo-Nazi Caught On Video Denying The Holocaust At Richmond Gun Rally

A white nationalist speaker who has been affiliated with neo-Nazi rhetoric was caught on video denying the Holocaust at a pro-Second Amendment march in Richmond , Virginia .
The remarks were made by former Proud Boy Jovanni Valle , who goes by the name Jovi Val .
Video clips of Valle ’ s speech were shared on Twitter by writer Robert Evans .
“ You wear a swastika and walk down the street , ” a man can be heard telling Valle .
“ You took it off and now you are like , oh no .
You are denying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why should I answer your questions when you haven ’ t answered any of mine ?
” Valle asks .
“ Why is it you say 6 million [ died in the Holocaust ] , when 30 million die , when 70 million die , you don ’ t care.
” “ You ’ re trying to hide the fact that you are literally a neo-Nazi !
” someone shouts at Valle .
A right-wing protester is later seen complaining to Valle that supporting Adolf Hitler is a “ liberal ” position .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

A white nationalist speaker who has been affiliated with neo-Nazi rhetoric was caught on video denying the Holocaust at a pro-Second Amendment march in Richmond, Virginia.
The remarks were made by former Proud Boy Jovanni Valle, who goes by the name Jovi Val. Video clips of Valle’s speech were shared on Twitter by writer Robert Evans.
“You wear a swastika and walk down the street,” a man can be heard telling Valle. “You took it off and now you are like, oh no. You are denying the existence of the Holocaust.”
“Why should I answer your questions when you haven’t answered any of mine?” Valle asks. “Why is it you say 6 million [died in the Holocaust], when 30 million die, when 70 million die, you don’t care.”
“You’re trying to hide the fact that you are literally a neo-Nazi!” someone shouts at Valle.
A right-wing protester is later seen complaining to Valle that supporting Adolf Hitler is a “liberal” position.
Watch some of the clips below.
Jovi Val here, denying the Holocaust. So we have a Nazi loudly expressing himself here. pic.twitter.com/Q9GFEec0QH — Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) January 20, 2020
Jovi Val, admitting to being a National Socialist, here on camera. pic.twitter.com/VcX6kQHp9o — Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) January 20, 2020
An interesting moment here, as a right wing demonstrator is incensed at Jovi and his friends expressing support for Hitler. He calls Jovi a "liberal". One of Jovi's people desperately tries to convince the man that Jovi is on the right. pic.twitter.com/VUQjQLuG0U — Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) January 20, 2020
Happy MLK day everybody. pic.twitter.com/8fJZjMyZIP — Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) January 20, 2020
It's like being back in Iraq, only no one knows how to use the weapons! pic.twitter.com/f5Kii8HyEk — Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) January 20, 2020
More here.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Carl Bernstein Blasts 'Midnight Mitch': 'Embracing A Coverup For All To See'

Reporter Carl Bernstein shut Rick Santorum 's ridiculous distractions off and gave Mitch McConnell a new handle all at the same time on Monday night .
In the panel discussion on CNN , Rick Santorum was doing his best to take the show off the rails with a distraction about whether Nancy Pelosi should have sent the articles over sooner , blah blah blah .
Carl Bernstein cut that right off .
`` Let 's look at the big picture .
This is most important moment for the Republican Party since the censure of Joe McCarthy and the impeachment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroes and patriots , '' he said .
`` Now we 're looking at Midnight Mitch and the so-called world 's greatest deliberative body really embracing a cover-up there for all to see , '' he continued .
`` That 's what this is about -- preventing information from becoming known and seen by the American public . ''
He added , `` Other impeachments , including Andrew Johnson , including Clinton , there has been no problem about knowing the truth of the facts .
We still have a factual problem here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him , and Mitch McConnell , have impeded the facts from the beginning . ''
Santorum sputtered and stuttered and tried to redirect the discussion after that , but Bernstein really shut it all down .
And now Moscow Mitch will be known as Midnight Mitch .
Or maybe Midnight Moscow Mitch ?

Reporter Carl Bernstein shut Rick Santorum's ridiculous distractions off and gave Mitch McConnell a new handle all at the same time on Monday night.
In the panel discussion on CNN, Rick Santorum was doing his best to take the show off the rails with a distraction about whether Nancy Pelosi should have sent the articles over sooner, blah blah blah.
Carl Bernstein cut that right off.
"Let's look at the big picture. This is most important moment for the Republican Party since the censure of Joe McCarthy and the impeachment of Richard Nixon in which Republicans became great heroes and patriots," he said.
"Now we're looking at Midnight Mitch and the so-called world's greatest deliberative body really embracing a cover-up there for all to see," he continued. "That's what this is about -- preventing information from becoming known and seen by the American public."
He added, "Other impeachments, including Andrew Johnson, including Clinton, there has been no problem about knowing the truth of the facts. We still have a factual problem here because the president and those who work for him, and Mitch McConnell, have impeded the facts from the beginning."
Santorum sputtered and stuttered and tried to redirect the discussion after that, but Bernstein really shut it all down. And now Moscow Mitch will be known as Midnight Mitch. Or maybe Midnight Moscow Mitch?


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--CNN Anchors Incredulous That Trump Bragged About Having The Documents

New Day anchors John Berman and Alysin Camerota were incredulous that Trump bragged about having the documents the House Democrats want .
`` Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says he believes Democrats are making gains in their push to get Senate Republicans to support hearing from witnesses and get documents that they do n't have -- documents that apparently the president of the United States is now bragging that he does have , and is n't giving over .
Back with us , John Avalon and Joe Lockhart .
What am I talking about ?
`` I know what you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the quiet part out loud again .
There 's a show called 'His Dark Materials , ' right ?
That 's what this is , '' Berman said .
TRUMP : We 're doing very well .
I got to watch enough .
I thought our team did a very good job .
But honestly , we have all the material .
They do n't have the material .
`` Exactly !
That 's the point .
You have the material and they do n't .
Do you really believe , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they 're making gains for the Republicans ? ''
Berman asked Joe Lockhart .
`` I think they 're making progress .
Are they making enough progress ?
And we just wo n't know that .
I do n't think that a serious person -- and there are a few serious people in the United States Senate on the Republican side .
Not many , but there are some , '' Joe Lockhart said .
`` They ca n't listen to this and not believe that the president did something wrong .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed for it .
I think many of them will say that at some point in the process , or in their questions .
But they ca n't be unmoved by this .
But I do n't think we 're going to know the answer to that question until they have to say , you know , aye or no . ''

New Day anchors John Berman and Alysin Camerota were incredulous that Trump bragged about having the documents the House Democrats want.
"Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says he believes Democrats are making gains in their push to get Senate Republicans to support hearing from witnesses and get documents that they don't have -- documents that apparently the president of the United States is now bragging that he does have, and isn't giving over. Back with us, John Avalon and Joe Lockhart. What am I talking about?
"I know what you're talking about."
"The president saying the quiet part out loud again. There's a show called 'His Dark Materials,' right? That's what this is," Berman said.
TRUMP: We're doing very well. I got to watch enough. I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material.
"Exactly! That's the point. You have the material and they don't. Do you really believe, though, Chuck Schumer's claim last night that they're making gains for the Republicans?" Berman asked Joe Lockhart.
"I think they're making progress. Are they making enough progress? And we just won't know that. I don't think that a serious person -- and there are a few serious people in the United States Senate on the Republican side. Not many, but there are some," Joe Lockhart said.
"They can't listen to this and not believe that the president did something wrong. They may not believe the president may be removed for it. I think many of them will say that at some point in the process, or in their questions. But they can't be unmoved by this. But I don't think we're going to know the answer to that question until they have to say, you know, aye or no."


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Claire McCaskill Reminds Ted Cruz He Can't Demand Anything In Impeachment Trial

During a long Day 2 of the Senate impeachment trial of Donald John Trump , there was some breaking alleged news during the dinner break .
Robert Costa joined the MSNBC panel doing color commentary to announce that Senator Ted Cruz has declared that `` testimony from Hunter Biden is , quote , now critical and directly relevant . ''
This , after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had said there would be no `` trade '' for witnesses : no John Bolton for Hunter Biden , to be specific .
Ari Melber was hosting the panel , and he turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction to what he called Ted Cruz 's `` demand . ''
Suffice it to say , she was skeptical .
McCASKILL : Well Ted Cruz has demanded a lot of things during his time in the Senate .
And typically he 's not been particularly effective at getting them done .
Famously calling Mitch McConnell a liar on the floor of the Senate , reading Green Eggs and Ham , and shutting down the government .
Trying to boast that he 's better than all of the — he 's always trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He wants to be the outsider .
So for him now to be this , `` I 'm demanding , '' he ca n't demand .
He ca n't demand anything .
And , frankly , if Ted Cruz wants Hunter Biden as a witness , then he needs to get his buddy Lindsey Graham , who was melting down today , to call him in the Judiciary Committee as a witness .
They control the Senate .
To act like somehow they ca n't get Hunter Biden in front of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'DONNELL : The idea that Ted Cruz is a key player , well , this is the first time .
If he 's the key player in this , that is the first time in his life .
O'Donnell goes on to explain exactly why Republicans do n't want Hunter Biden to testify ... because they do n't want ANY witnesses to testify .
McCaskill , though , sorted through Cruz 's mindset .
McCASKILL : And why he 's doing this is very simple .
He wants them to vote for no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's looking for a peg for them to put their hat on .
`` Well , the only reason we did n't vote for witnesses or documents is because they would n't give us Hunter Biden . ''
That 's what he 's doing .
He 's trying to give the senators an out to shut this thing down without it being a trial .
There 's a reason Ted Cruz is the commonly considered the most detested senator in the upper house of Congress .
Claire McCaskill 's contempt for him is @ @ @ @ @

During a long Day 2 of the Senate impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, there was some breaking alleged news during the dinner break. Robert Costa joined the MSNBC panel doing color commentary to announce that Senator Ted Cruz has declared that "testimony from Hunter Biden is, quote, now critical and directly relevant." This, after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had said there would be no "trade" for witnesses: no John Bolton for Hunter Biden, to be specific.
Ari Melber was hosting the panel, and he turned to former Senator Claire McCaskill for her reaction to what he called Ted Cruz's "demand." Suffice it to say, she was skeptical.
McCASKILL: Well Ted Cruz has demanded a lot of things during his time in the Senate. And typically he's not been particularly effective at getting them done. Famously calling Mitch McConnell a liar on the floor of the Senate, reading Green Eggs and Ham, and shutting down the government. Trying to boast that he's better than all of the — he's always trying to be NOT one of the guys. He wants to be the outsider. So for him now to be this, "I'm demanding," he can't demand. He can't demand anything. And, frankly, if Ted Cruz wants Hunter Biden as a witness, then he needs to get his buddy Lindsey Graham, who was melting down today, to call him in the Judiciary Committee as a witness. They control the Senate. To act like somehow they can't get Hunter Biden in front of the Senate is just BS, frankly.
Lawrence O'Donnell agreed.
O'DONNELL: The idea that Ted Cruz is a key player, well, this is the first time. If he's the key player in this, that is the first time in his life.
O'Donnell goes on to explain exactly why Republicans don't want Hunter Biden to testify...because they don't want ANY witnesses to testify. McCaskill, though, sorted through Cruz's mindset.
McCASKILL: And why he's doing this is very simple. He wants them to vote for no witnesses and no documents. So he's looking for a peg for them to put their hat on. "Well, the only reason we didn't vote for witnesses or documents is because they wouldn't give us Hunter Biden." That's what he's doing. He's trying to give the senators an out to shut this thing down without it being a trial.
There's a reason Ted Cruz is the commonly considered the most detested senator in the upper house of Congress. Claire McCaskill's contempt for him is particularly entertaining, though.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Schiff Opens Impeachment Trial With Chorus From Alexander Hamilton

In case you missed the live stream we had on the site yesterday , I wanted to highlight the first few minutes of Rep. Adam Schiff 's opening statement at the Senate impeachment trial Wednesday because it was an eloquent and passionate argument for why impeachment is necessary , and why it 's doubly necessary to impeach Donald Trump .
He opened up with a description of Trump written by Alexander Hamilton : “ When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune , bold in his temper , possessed of considerable talents , having the advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty—when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity—to join in the cry of danger to liberty—to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion—to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day—It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ‘ ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.
’ ” And from there , he was off and running .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his team presented arguments in narrative form for eight hours Wednesday , and will be doing the same thing again today .
Here 's the rest of the transcript of this clip : Those words were written by Alexander Hamilton in a letter to President George Washington , at the height of the Panic of 1792 , a financial credit crisis that shook our young nation .
Hamilton was responding to sentiments relayed to Washington as he traveled the country , that America , in the face of that crisis , might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government , ” plunging instead into “ that of a monarchy.
” The Framers of our Constitution worried then—as we worry today—that a leader could come to power not to carry out the will of the people that he was elected to represent , but to pursue his own interests .
They feared that a president could subvert our democracy by abusing the awesome power of his office for his own personal or political gain .
And so they devised a remedy as powerful as the evil it was meant to combat : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our Founders have achieved an almost mythic character .
We are aware of their flaws , certainly , some very painful and pronounced indeed .
And yet , when it came to the drafting of a new system of government , never seen before and with no guarantee it could succeed , we can not help but be in awe of their genius , their prescience , even , vindicated time and time again .
Still , and maybe because of their brilliance and the brilliance of their words , we find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to imagine them as human beings .
This is no less true of Alexander Hamilton , notwithstanding his own return to celebrity .
But they were human beings , they understood human frailties even as they exhibited them , they could appreciate , just as we can , how power can corrupt , and even as we struggle to understand how the Framers might have responded to Presidential misconduct of the kind and character we are here to try , we should not imagine for one moment that they lacked basic common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves .
They knew what it was like to live under a despot , and they risked their lives to be free of it .
They knew they were creating an enormously powerful executive , and they knew they needed to constrain it .
They did not intend for the power of impeachment to be used frequently , or over mere matters of policy , but they also put it in the constitution for a reason .
For a man who would subvert the interests of our nation to pursue his own interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to perpetuate himself in office by inviting foreign interference and cheating in an election .
For a man who would be disdainful of constitutional limit , ignoring or defeating the other branches of government and their co-equal powers .
For a man who would believed that the constitution gave him the right to do anything he wanted and practiced in the art of deception .
For a man who believed himself above the law and beholden to no one .
For a man , in short , who would be a king .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , undertaking this solemn action for only the third time in history—because Donald J. Trump , the 45th President of the United States , has acted precisely as Hamilton and his contemporaries had feared .
President Trump solicited foreign interference in our democratic elections , abusing the power of his office by seeking help from abroad to improve his reelection prospects at home .
And when he was caught , he used the powers of that office to obstruct the investigation into his own misconduct .
To implement his corrupt scheme , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly announce investigations into two discredited allegations that would benefit President Trump ’ s 2020 presidential campaign .
When the Ukrainian president did not immediately assent , President Trump withheld two official acts to induce the Ukrainian leader to comply—a head of state meeting and military funding .
Both were of great consequence to Ukraine and to our own national interest and security , but one looms largest : President Trump withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to a strategic partner at war with Russia to secure foreign help with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cheat .
In this way , the President used official state powers—available only to him and unavailable to any political opponent—to advantage himself in our democratic election .
His scheme was undertaken for a simple but corrupt reason : to help him win reelection in 2020 .
But the effect of his scheme was to undermine our free and fair elections and place our national security at risk .

In case you missed the live stream we had on the site yesterday, I wanted to highlight the first few minutes of Rep. Adam Schiff's opening statement at the Senate impeachment trial Wednesday because it was an eloquent and passionate argument for why impeachment is necessary, and why it's doubly necessary to impeach Donald Trump.
He opened up with a description of Trump written by Alexander Hamilton:
“When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits—despotic in his ordinary demeanour—known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty—when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity—to join in the cry of danger to liberty—to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion—to flatter and fall in with all the non sense of the zealots of the day—It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ‘ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.’”
And from there, he was off and running. This is only four minutes. Schiff and his team presented arguments in narrative form for eight hours Wednesday, and will be doing the same thing again today.
Here's the rest of the transcript of this clip:
Those words were written by Alexander Hamilton in a letter to President George Washington, at the height of the Panic of 1792, a financial credit crisis that shook our young nation. Hamilton was responding to sentiments relayed to Washington as he traveled the country, that America, in the face of that crisis, might descend from “a republican form of Government,” plunging instead into “that of a monarchy.”
The Framers of our Constitution worried then—as we worry today—that a leader could come to power not to carry out the will of the people that he was elected to represent, but to pursue his own interests. They feared that a president could subvert our democracy by abusing the awesome power of his office for his own personal or political gain.
And so they devised a remedy as powerful as the evil it was meant to combat: Impeachment.
As the centuries have passed, our Founders have achieved an almost mythic character. We are aware of their flaws, certainly, some very painful and pronounced indeed. And yet, when it came to the drafting of a new system of government, never seen before and with no guarantee it could succeed, we cannot help but be in awe of their genius, their prescience, even, vindicated time and time again.
Still, and maybe because of their brilliance and the brilliance of their words, we find, year after year, it more difficult to imagine them as human beings. This is no less true of Alexander Hamilton, notwithstanding his own return to celebrity.
But they were human beings, they understood human frailties even as they exhibited them, they could appreciate, just as we can, how power can corrupt, and even as we struggle to understand how the Framers might have responded to Presidential misconduct of the kind and character we are here to try, we should not imagine for one moment that they lacked basic common sense, or refuse to apply it ourselves.
They knew what it was like to live under a despot, and they risked their lives to be free of it. They knew they were creating an enormously powerful executive, and they knew they needed to constrain it. They did not intend for the power of impeachment to be used frequently, or over mere matters of policy, but they also put it in the constitution for a reason. For a man who would subvert the interests of our nation to pursue his own interests. For a man who would seek to perpetuate himself in office by inviting foreign interference and cheating in an election. For a man who would be disdainful of constitutional limit, ignoring or defeating the other branches of government and their co-equal powers. For a man who would believed that the constitution gave him the right to do anything he wanted and practiced in the art of deception. For a man who believed himself above the law and beholden to no one. For a man, in short, who would be a king.
We are here today—in this hallowed chamber, undertaking this solemn action for only the third time in history—because Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has acted precisely as Hamilton and his contemporaries had feared. President Trump solicited foreign interference in our democratic elections, abusing the power of his office by seeking help from abroad to improve his reelection prospects at home. And when he was caught, he used the powers of that office to obstruct the investigation into his own misconduct.
To implement his corrupt scheme, President Trump pressured the President of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into two discredited allegations that would benefit President Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. When the Ukrainian president did not immediately assent, President Trump withheld two official acts to induce the Ukrainian leader to comply—a head of state meeting and military funding. Both were of great consequence to Ukraine and to our own national interest and security, but one looms largest: President Trump withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to a strategic partner at war with Russia to secure foreign help with his reelection, in other words, to cheat.
In this way, the President used official state powers—available only to him and unavailable to any political opponent—to advantage himself in our democratic election. His scheme was undertaken for a simple but corrupt reason: to help him win reelection in 2020. But the effect of his scheme was to undermine our free and fair elections and place our national security at risk.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Eric Swalwell Talks Impeachment With Seth Meyers

Everyone called for jury duty will want THEIR trial to be just like Trump 's : No witnesses , no @ @ @ @ @ Eric Swalwell doing a great job outlining for the non-news junkies what 's going on @ @ @ @ @ cover up for Trump .

Everyone called for jury duty will want THEIR trial to be just like Trump's: No witnesses, no evidence, three days.
Eric Swalwell doing a great job outlining for the non-news junkies what's going on in the Senate: a cover up for Trump.
Open thread below...


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Richmond Gun Rally Is First Salvo In GunSense Battle

The organizers of Monday ’ s massive gun rally in Richmond , Virginia , were very proud that no violence erupted over the course of the day , despite the fears of government that the use of the weaponry being put on display there was being planned .
But Monday ’ s rally wasn ’ t the end of these concerns—in many ways , it was just the beginning .
An estimated 22,000 people showed .
Most of them were openly armed , a majority of those with long rifles strapped to their chests .
One man from New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000-yard range , apparently equipped with a scope with a 500-yard range .
The National Review told its readers that the concerns about violence “ looked like panic ” afterward .
Of course , the magazine neglected to explain to its readers that the event was preceded by two months of social-media chatter in which would-be participants described their eagerness to begin a second civil war , including posts describing superior sniper-fire positions around the Capitol .
Fox News similarly featured predictable coverage touting the peacefulness of the rally .
A black spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared on Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning to mock the concern : `` This was by far , hands down , the worst white supremacist rally I have ever seen , '' said Antonia Okafor .
`` There were people shaking my hand .
I mean , they even let me speak , for goodness sake . ''
Okafor added that depicting the rallygoers as white nationalists contributed to “ the left 's agenda ‘ to divide this country.
’ ” Okafor either was unfamiliar with the heavy pre-rally discussion of fomenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or was like many of the rallygoers in that she believed that , despite the radical right being the sole source of “ civil war ” talk , the “ radical left ” is its primary cause .
None of them bothered to mention the FBI ’ s arrests before the march of seven neo-Nazi members of The Base , at least three of whom planned to be in Richmond and had discussed opening fire there .
According to the FBI affidavit in the case , the three men discussed “ the planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia , scheduled for January 20 , 2020.
” Arrestee Brian “ Lemley discussed using a thermal imaging scope affixed to his rifle to conduct ambush attacks , ” the affidavit explains , “ including attacks against unsuspecting civilians and police officers .
Lemley stated , ‘ I literally need , I need to claim my first victim , ’ and when describing the optic , Lemley stated , “ It ’ s so unfair what I can do to people with that you know .
There is no safety .
Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place where I pop you.
” Canadian reservist Patrik Mathews stated , ‘ we could essentially like be literally hunting people .
Um .
You could provide overwatch while I get close to do what needs to be done to certain things.
” It quoted fugitive Mathews observing that “ you know we got this situation in Virginia where this is going to be , that opportunity is boundless and the thing is you ’ ve got tons of guys who are just in theory should be radicalized enough to know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making things go wrong and if Virginia can spiral out to fucking full blown civil war.
’ ” Equally disturbing , however , were the large numbers of law-enforcement officers from rural Virginia who came to Richmond to participate in the rally .
These officers—most of them sheriffs affiliated with the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association—pronounced the proposed Virginia legislation ( the centerpiece of which is a prohibition against buying more than one gun a month ) “ unconstitutional.
” One such officer , Sheriff Richard Vaughan of Grays County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills go through as proposed , they will not be enforced .
They are unconstitutional.
” This not only contradicts the executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police—who explains that “ the courts are the proper branch of government to determine the constitutionality of laws duly enacted by the legislature ” ( the organization supports most of the proposed legislation ) —but is clearly a product of CSPOA “ constitutionalist ” claims , which have never been upheld by any court in the United States .
This is why Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the beginning of a long-running and potentially violent conflict between so-called “ constitutionalists ” in rural Virginia and elsewhere , and lawmakers attempting to establish fully constitutional regulations .
Because it fits the plan elucidated last week by Stewart Rhodes , founder/leader of the “ Patriot ” /militia organization Oath Keepers : namely , to take the fight to those rural Virginia government entities ( nearly 93 cities and counties so far ) that have declared themselves “ Second Amendment sanctuaries ” where state and federal gun laws may be nullified .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could come down to a standoff .
That 's why it 's important for , like I said , we want to reach out to the state police and National Guard as part of our mission when we go to Virginia , is reach out to them and encourage them to stand down because if they do act under the command of the governor , they come into a county , and they 're resisted by the local militia or the sheriff and his posse , it will kick off a civil war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will happen .
There will be a civil war between the left and the right and we 'd prefer to see that not happen .
That 's where it 's going to go.
” Rhodes also held out the “ constitutionalist ” belief that sheriffs , not the courts , are the highest law in the land : “ So , everyone 's deferring to the courts as though they 're the final arbiter on whether or not something is constitutional .
That 's not the founders design .
You wo n't find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts have carved out judicial supremacy , and the supposed authority to be the final arbiter of what 's constitutional or not.
” And the tendency is for officials to say , `` Well , we 're just going to go ahead and do [ what ] we think is right and the court will let us know if it 's wrong , and until the court rules it 's unconstitutional , we 're going to enforce it . ''
That 's the mindset out there .
Not everywhere .
Gov .
Ralph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence Monday , but in a statement also signaled that he did not believe the situation was close to being resolved .
`` Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard .
Today showed that when people disagree , they can do so peacefully , '' Northam said .
`` The issues before us evoke strong emotions , and progress is often difficult .
I will continue to listen to the voices of Virginians , and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep our Commonwealth safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to agree : `` We came unarmed ... this time , '' read one sign at Monday ’ s rally .
`` Patriots unite !
They ban , we fight , '' read another .

The organizers of Monday’s massive gun rally in Richmond, Virginia, were very proud that no violence erupted over the course of the day, despite the fears of government that the use of the weaponry being put on display there was being planned. But Monday’s rally wasn’t the end of these concerns—in many ways, it was just the beginning.
An estimated 22,000 people showed. Most of them were openly armed, a majority of those with long rifles strapped to their chests. One man from New York showed off a .50-caliber rifle with a 2,000-yard range, apparently equipped with a scope with a 500-yard range.
The National Review told its readers that the concerns about violence “looked like panic” afterward. Of course, the magazine neglected to explain to its readers that the event was preceded by two months of social-media chatter in which would-be participants described their eagerness to begin a second civil war, including posts describing superior sniper-fire positions around the Capitol.
Fox News similarly featured predictable coverage touting the peacefulness of the rally. A black spokesman for the far-right Gun Owners of America appeared on Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning to mock the concern: "This was by far, hands down, the worst white supremacist rally I have ever seen," said Antonia Okafor. "There were people shaking my hand. I mean, they even let me speak, for goodness sake."
Okafor added that depicting the rallygoers as white nationalists contributed to “the left's agenda ‘to divide this country.’” Okafor either was unfamiliar with the heavy pre-rally discussion of fomenting a “second civil war,” or was like many of the rallygoers in that she believed that, despite the radical right being the sole source of “civil war” talk, the “radical left” is its primary cause.
None of them bothered to mention the FBI’s arrests before the march of seven neo-Nazi members of The Base, at least three of whom planned to be in Richmond and had discussed opening fire there. According to the FBI affidavit in the case, the three men discussed “the planning of violence at a specific event in Virginia, scheduled for January 20, 2020.”
Arrestee Brian “Lemley discussed using a thermal imaging scope affixed to his rifle to conduct ambush attacks,” the affidavit explains, “including attacks against unsuspecting civilians and police officers. Lemley stated, ‘I literally need, I need to claim my first victim,’ and when describing the optic, Lemley stated, “It’s so unfair what I can do to people with that you know. There is no safety. Don’t be caught alone at night in a place where I pop you.”
Canadian reservist Patrik Mathews stated, ‘we could essentially like be literally hunting people. Um. You could provide overwatch while I get close to do what needs to be done to certain things.”
It quoted fugitive Mathews observing that “you know we got this situation in Virginia where this is going to be, that opportunity is boundless and the thing is you’ve got tons of guys who are just in theory should be radicalized enough to know that all you gotta do is start making things go wrong and if Virginia can spiral out to fucking full blown civil war.’”
The assorted Virginia sheriffs who attended Monday’s rally in Virginia, claiming that the proposed gun-control legislation is “unconstitutional,’ posed for a photo together.
Equally disturbing, however, were the large numbers of law-enforcement officers from rural Virginia who came to Richmond to participate in the rally. These officers—most of them sheriffs affiliated with the far-right Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association—pronounced the proposed Virginia legislation (the centerpiece of which is a prohibition against buying more than one gun a month) “unconstitutional.”
One such officer, Sheriff Richard Vaughan of Grays County, told a reporter: “If the bills go through as proposed, they will not be enforced. They are unconstitutional.”
This not only contradicts the executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police—who explains that “the courts are the proper branch of government to determine the constitutionality of laws duly enacted by the legislature” (the organization supports most of the proposed legislation)—but is clearly a product of CSPOA “constitutionalist” claims, which have never been upheld by any court in the United States.
This is why Monday’s rally is likely just to be the beginning of a long-running and potentially violent conflict between so-called “constitutionalists” in rural Virginia and elsewhere, and lawmakers attempting to establish fully constitutional regulations. Because it fits the plan elucidated last week by Stewart Rhodes, founder/leader of the “Patriot”/militia organization Oath Keepers: namely, to take the fight to those rural Virginia government entities (nearly 93 cities and counties so far) that have declared themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries” where state and federal gun laws may be nullified.
Rhodes explained “So yes, it could come down to a standoff. That's why it's important for, like I said, we want to reach out to the state police and National Guard as part of our mission when we go to Virginia, is reach out to them and encourage them to stand down because if they do act under the command of the governor, they come into a county, and they're resisted by the local militia or the sheriff and his posse, it will kick off a civil war in this country. That's what will happen. There will be a civil war between the left and the right and we'd prefer to see that not happen. That's where it's going to go.”
Rhodes also held out the “constitutionalist” belief that sheriffs, not the courts, are the highest law in the land:
“So, everyone's deferring to the courts as though they're the final arbiter on whether or not something is constitutional. That's not the founders design. You won't find that anywhere in the constitution. The courts have carved out judicial supremacy, and the supposed authority to be the final arbiter of what's constitutional or not.” And the tendency is for officials to say, "Well, we're just going to go ahead and do [what] we think is right and the court will let us know if it's wrong, and until the court rules it's unconstitutional, we're going to enforce it." That's the mindset out there. Not everywhere.
Gov. Ralph Northam expressed relief that there was no violence Monday, but in a statement also signaled that he did not believe the situation was close to being resolved. "Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard. Today showed that when people disagree, they can do so peacefully," Northam said. "The issues before us evoke strong emotions, and progress is often difficult. I will continue to listen to the voices of Virginians, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep our Commonwealth safe."
The assembled anti-gun-control protesters seemed to agree: "We came unarmed ... this time," read one sign at Monday’s rally. "Patriots unite! They ban, we fight," read another.
Republished with permission from Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-01-22--VIDEO: Trump Gloats About Obstructing Congress

Earlier Wednesday , Donald Trump was in Davos for the World Economic Forum .
Emboldened by the expected full acquittal @ @ @ @ @ Trump confessed to Obstruction of Congress , which is Article Two of the Articles of @ @ @ @ @ flat-out admitted that the House does not have the documents because he has everything .
@ @ @ @ @ press that he thought the hearing was going `` very well '' for him , @ @ @ @ @ the jury 's ruling , you do n't really care what happens during the trial @ @ @ @ @ tainted .
And when asked about why he felt it was going so well , @ @ @ @ @ administration withheld documents from the House to prevent them from finding it out even more @ @ @ @ @ got to watch enough — I thought our team did a very good job .
@ @ @ @ @ all the material .
They don ’ t have the material . ''
Rep. Val @ @ @ @ @ seven Impeachment Managers took note .
Others took note as well .

Earlier Wednesday, Donald Trump was in Davos for the World Economic Forum. Emboldened by the expected full acquittal by the GOP-led Senate, Trump confessed to Obstruction of Congress, which is Article Two of the Articles of Impeachment. Seriously, he flat-out admitted that the House does not have the documents because he has everything.
First, he told the press that he thought the hearing was going "very well" for him, because when you already know the jury's ruling, you don't really care what happens during the trial. The whole thing is tainted.
And when asked about why he felt it was going so well, he fully admitted that his administration withheld documents from the House to prevent them from finding it out even more damning evidence:
“I got to watch enough — I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don’t have the material."
Oh.
Rep. Val Demings, one of the seven Impeachment Managers took note. Others took note as well.
Trump in Davos admits to obstruction during his obstruction trial in DC - Responding to a question about the impeachment trial, Trump told reporters: “I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don’t have the material.” See Art II. pic.twitter.com/W6VqksubcT — John P. Flannery (@JonFlan) January 22, 2020
Trump, who obstructed Congress by withholding documents and witnesses, just told reporters in Davos that the House doesn’t have the evidence, “we” have all the evidence. Given that one of the charges is obstruction, that’s as brazenly corrupt and cynical as it gets. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) January 22, 2020
Trump admits that he is withholding evidence relevant to his impeachment trial taking place in the Senate. https://t.co/odJei7WsM2 — Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 22, 2020
I look forward to hearing how his lawyers explain this one away. https://t.co/0fuAPx9Ir0 — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 22, 2020
Nailed it


crooksandliars--2020-01-22--Chief Justice Roberts Indulges Lying, But Draws The Line At Naming The Liar

We are ALL Elie Mystal 's mom .
I do n't mean in the sense that we 're all allowed to send him to his room .
( We 're not . )
I mean , well , here 's the tweet .
See what I mean , now ?
HOW MANY OF US , yesterday , were asking ourselves how lawyers — LEGITIMATE members of the Bar Associations of varying states and The District of Columbia — were permitted to stand before the U.S. Senate and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court , and lie with impunity on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. president ?
That 's exactly what members of the White House team did yesterday , as they defended Trump against articles of impeachment .
Elie Mystal explained how that 's possible , and all the ways in which the rules of this trial make it actually NOT a trial , in his illuminating piece for The Nation .
[ T ] he Senate impeachment trial doesn ’ t even pretend to follow the same basic rules as any other trial .
For instance , in a civil trial , lawyers who make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may also be sanctioned for violating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ( Rule 11 ) .
Here , those federal rules do not apply .
McConnell didn ’ t incorporate them into his rules , and so this Senate trial will proceed as if they don ’ t exist .
We ’ re being forced to act like there are not centuries of American jurisprudence to guide us on what a “ trial ” should look like , because for impeachment those centuries are irrelevant .
The only rules that matter are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States Senate .
Got it ?
So , at the end of a long day for these Senators , Jerry Nadler had had it , and said the White House team had lied .
Then , Cipollone of the Gelled Hair stood up with wounded indignation and demanded an apology .
An apology to the Senate , to Trump and his family , and to the American PEOPLE , you SCOUNDREL ( he seemed to say , as he walked over to slap Jerrold across the face with his white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , of course , was more bullsh*t. Chief Justice John Roberts decided to step in and issue his first non-procedural utterance of the day .
It was n't , however , about truth , or justice , or the gravity of the charges against the leader of the free world .
It was a reminder to not say mean things about each other .
Again , from Elie Mystal : He admonished “ both sides , in equal terms ” for failing to address the Senate with the proper respect .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plays to the Republican advantage .
If he was going to bother to speak , Roberts could , as Representative Jamie Raskin suggested , have admonished Pat Cipollone for bald lying .
Nobody would have had to listen to him , but he could have used his moral authority to set the the record straight .
Why did n't Chief Justice Roberts use his voice this way ?
It 's not like the Republican majority could have overridden his decision on a question before him .
It would just have been his reminding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series that one team is not allowed to play with buzzers strapped to their shoulders .
Do n't lie .
Do n't cheat .
Instead we got , `` Just make sure your shirt is tucked in . ''

We are ALL Elie Mystal's mom.
I don't mean in the sense that we're all allowed to send him to his room. (We're not.) I mean, well, here's the tweet.
Yesterday, my mother kept asking me "Why are Republicans allowed to lie?" So, I decided to explain it to everybody. When you are watching #impeachment, here's why Republicans can lie with impunity. My latest in @thenation https://t.co/xjZ6XxPeJi — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) January 22, 2020
See what I mean, now? HOW MANY OF US, yesterday, were asking ourselves how lawyers — LEGITIMATE members of the Bar Associations of varying states and The District of Columbia — were permitted to stand before the U.S. Senate and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and lie with impunity on behalf of anyone, let alone the U.S. president? That's exactly what members of the White House team did yesterday, as they defended Trump against articles of impeachment.
Elie Mystal explained how that's possible, and all the ways in which the rules of this trial make it actually NOT a trial, in his illuminating piece for The Nation.
[T]he Senate impeachment trial doesn’t even pretend to follow the same basic rules as any other trial. For instance, in a civil trial, lawyers who make false, misleading, or frivolous arguments may also be sanctioned for violating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 11). Here, those federal rules do not apply. McConnell didn’t incorporate them into his rules, and so this Senate trial will proceed as if they don’t exist. We’re being forced to act like there are not centuries of American jurisprudence to guide us on what a “trial” should look like, because for impeachment those centuries are irrelevant. The only rules that matter are the ones that get a 51-vote majority in the United States Senate.
Got it? So, at the end of a long day for these Senators, Jerry Nadler had had it, and said the White House team had lied. Then, Cipollone of the Gelled Hair stood up with wounded indignation and demanded an apology. An apology to the Senate, to Trump and his family, and to the American PEOPLE, you SCOUNDREL (he seemed to say, as he walked over to slap Jerrold across the face with his white kid leather glove.) All of this, of course, was more bullsh*t.
Chief Justice John Roberts decided to step in and issue his first non-procedural utterance of the day. It wasn't, however, about truth, or justice, or the gravity of the charges against the leader of the free world. It was a reminder to not say mean things about each other. Again, from Elie Mystal:
He admonished “both sides, in equal terms” for failing to address the Senate with the proper respect. It’s a microcosm of how both-sideism plays to the Republican advantage. If he was going to bother to speak, Roberts could, as Representative Jamie Raskin suggested, have admonished Pat Cipollone for bald lying. Nobody would have had to listen to him, but he could have used his moral authority to set the the record straight.
Why didn't Chief Justice Roberts use his voice this way? It's not like the Republican majority could have overridden his decision on a question before him. It would just have been his reminding the two teams in this political world series that one team is not allowed to play with buzzers strapped to their shoulders. Don't lie. Don't cheat. Instead we got, "Just make sure your shirt is tucked in."
Manners over substance. Civility over progress. Typical.


crooksandliars--2020-01-22--Saudis Hacked Phone Of Amazon Chief Jeff Bezos

“ The Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos had his mobile phone ‘ hacked ’ in 2018 after receiving a WhatsApp message @ @ @ @ @ from the personal account of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia , sources have told @ @ @ @ @ encrypted message from the number used by Mohammed bin Salman is believed to have included @ @ @ @ @ the phone of the world ’ s richest man , according to the results of @ @ @ @ @ “ This analysis found it ‘ highly probable ’ that the intrusion into the phone @ @ @ @ @ video file sent from the account of the Saudi heir to Bezos , the owner @ @ @ @ @ ”

The Guardian::
“The Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos had his mobile phone ‘hacked’ in 2018 after receiving a WhatsApp message that had apparently been sent from the personal account of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, sources have told the Guardian.
“The encrypted message from the number used by Mohammed bin Salman is believed to have included a malicious file that infiltrated the phone of the world’s richest man, according to the results of a digital forensic analysis.
“This analysis found it ‘highly probable’ that the intrusion into the phone was triggered by an infected video file sent from the account of the Saudi heir to Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post.”


crooksandliars--2020-01-22--WATCH LIVE:  Senate Impeachment Hearing Day 2

After a debate on the rules of the trial , opening arguments start Jan. 22 in the Senate .
After @ @ @ @ @ have 16 hours to ask questions in writing .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. @ @ @ @ @ loud , and the appropriate side — defense or prosecution — can answer them .

Washington Post on YouTube:
After a debate on the rules of the trial, opening arguments start Jan. 22 in the Senate. After opening arguments, senators will have 16 hours to ask questions in writing. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will read the questions out loud, and the appropriate side — defense or prosecution — can answer them.


crooksandliars--2020-01-22--Tulsi Gabbard Sues Hillary Clinton For $50M In Defamation Suit

I suppose this was inevitable .
And a reminder that Hillary Clinton did n't have to even say out loud Tulsi Gabbard 's name for everyone to know who she was talking about .
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against Hillary Clinton seeking $ 50 million in damages , claiming the former Democratic presidential nominee `` carelessly and recklessly impugned '' her reputation when she suggested in October that one of the 2020 Democratic candidates is `` the favorite of the Russians . ''
The lawsuit , filed in the U.S. District Court for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it aims to hold Clinton and other `` political elites '' accountable for `` distorting the truth in the middle of a critical Presidential election . ''
It also says Gabbard suffered an economic loss to be proven at trial .
Gabbard , a dark horse candidate who represents Hawaii , was on the campaign trail Wednesday and unavailable for comment about the suit , according to her law firm , Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP .
And as a reminder , here is what Hillary said and the context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians already have their “ eye on somebody who ’ s currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate , ” she said , in an apparent reference to Gabbard .
“ She ’ s the favorite of the Russians .
They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her , so far , ” Clinton told David Plouffe , the podcast ’ s host and the campaign manager for former President Obama ’ s 2008 campaign .
“ And that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , which she might not because she ’ s also a Russian asset , ” Clinton added , referring to the 2016 Green Party presidential candidate .

I suppose this was inevitable. And a reminder that Hillary Clinton didn't have to even say out loud Tulsi Gabbard's name for everyone to know who she was talking about.
Source: NBC News
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against Hillary Clinton seeking $50 million in damages, claiming the former Democratic presidential nominee "carelessly and recklessly impugned" her reputation when she suggested in October that one of the 2020 Democratic candidates is "the favorite of the Russians." The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, says it aims to hold Clinton and other "political elites" accountable for "distorting the truth in the middle of a critical Presidential election." It also says Gabbard suffered an economic loss to be proven at trial. Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill responded: "That’s ridiculous." Gabbard, a dark horse candidate who represents Hawaii, was on the campaign trail Wednesday and unavailable for comment about the suit, according to her law firm, Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP.
And as a reminder, here is what Hillary said and the context with which she said it.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Twitter Blasts Sen. Marsha Blackburn After She Questions Vindman's Patriotism

So much for that whole `` do impartial justice '' vow .
Senator Marsha Blackburn is not paying attention and @ @ @ @ @ paying attention , but she is also tweeting from the Senate floor during the presentation @ @ @ @ @ Schiff .
In her tweet , she insinuates that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is no @ @ @ @ @ is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot , '' she wrote .
`` How @ @ @ @ @ and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia , America ’ s greatest enemy @ @ @ @ @ ?
That would be Dear Leader , not the patriot who stood up to him @ @ @ @ @ .
Here are a few reactions : So Marsha Blackburn has no problem breaking her @ @ @ @ @ a war hero and patriot .
Congratulations , Marsha , you 've earned a spot @ @ @ @ @

So much for that whole "do impartial justice" vow. Senator Marsha Blackburn is not paying attention and not only is she not paying attention, but she is also tweeting from the Senate floor during the presentation by House Impeachment Manager Adam Schiff.
In her tweet, she insinuates that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is no patriot. "Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot," she wrote. "How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America’s greatest enemy?"
Uhhh, Marsha? That would be Dear Leader, not the patriot who stood up to him.
Twitter erupted with derision. Here are a few reactions:
Are you freaking serious?
Vindman received a Purple Heart medal for wounds sustained from an IED attack in the Iraq War in 2004.
As far as badmouthing and ridiculing our great nation in front of Russia, aim your criticism not at Vindman, but at Trump, who has done just that. https://t.co/LzrNHiEuA8 — Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) January 23, 2020
Marsha Blackburn is the Louis Gohmert of the Senate. Hat tip @MollyJongFast https://t.co/sINBe8K6tr — Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) January 23, 2020
How patriotic is it to be tweeting when you’re supposed to be a Senate juror? Disgusting Trump toadie. https://t.co/f11Kv46dFY — Rocky Mountain Mike (@RockyMntnMike) January 23, 2020
He did not badmouth the nation, he was wounded fighting for it. He spoke with tremendous praise and pride for the nation in the hearings, telling his father not to be afraid for him because this is America. https://t.co/XbTlUkNGdL — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 23, 2020
There are few people in public life who badmouth and ridicule America more than Donald Trump
He's been doing it for decades as a private citizen, candidate, and now as presidenthttps://t.co/Ig412D7aaN — XLProfessor (@XLProfessor) January 23, 2020
So Marsha Blackburn has no problem breaking her oath of impartiality to criticize a war hero and patriot. Congratulations, Marsha, you've earned a spot in the fascist bucket!


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Adam Schiff: Trump Played Right Into Putin's Hands And 'They Don't Wish Us Well'

Donald Trump serves no one except himself -- and Putin .
We all know Putin is his boss , his master , his puppetmaster .
And his behavior regarding Ukraine solidifies it .
Not only did he withhold $ 391 million in aid that would have helped Ukraine defend itself against Russia , but Trump continues to push the debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine actually meddled in our election - not Russia .
He also , in not so many words , suggested that Trump is Putin 's b*tch .
It 's one thing if someone off the street says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the President of the United States , you can see what a danger it is if it is patently false and it is promulgated by the Russians .
And again , the reporter says -- and we heard from the President himself he wanted the Crowdstrike portion of this whole conspiracy investigated , and I 'm hearing you saying there 's no evidence to support this , and Wray says , as I said , we have no -- we at the FBI have no information that would indicate that Ukraine tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , none , and so you can imagine the view from the Kremlin of all of this .
You can imagine Putin in the Kremlin with his aides when one of his aides comes into the office and says `` Vladimir , you 're never going to believe this .
The President of the United States is pushing our Crowdstrike theory . ''
I mean , you can all just imagine the incredulity of Vladimir Putin .
`` You 're kidding , right ?
You mean he really believes this ?
His own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes this . ''
And it 's not -- I mean , it would be bad enough , of course , that the President of the United States believes this Russian propaganda against the advice of all of his advisers , common sense and everything else , but it 's worse than that .
It 's worse than that .
On the basis of this Russian propaganda , he withheld $ 400 million in military aid to a nation Russia was fighting , our ally .
I mean , when we ask about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security implication of what the President did ? ''
how much more clear can it be that he 's not only pushing Russian propaganda , he 's not only misleading Americans about who interfered in the last election , that he 's not only doing the Kremlin a favor , but that he 's withholding aid from a nation at war .
The Russians not only got him to deflect blame from their interference in our democracy , but they got him to withhold military aid .
Now , of course there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the President .
The President was n't pushing Kremlin talking points just to do Vladimir Putin a favor .
He was doing it because it helped him , because it helped him , because it could get these talking points for him in his re-election campaign , and for that , he would sacrifice our ally and our own security .
But nothing struck me more from Representative Garcia 's presentation than that quote from Vladimir Putin from November of this past year , so just a couple months ago .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ god nobody is accusing us anymore of interfering in U.S .
Elections .
Now they 're accusing Ukraine .
Thank God , Putin says .
Well , you 've got to give Donald Trump credit for this , he has made a religious man out of Vladimir Putin , but I do n't think -- I do n't think we really want Vladimir Putin , our adversary , to be thanking God for the President of the United States because they do n't wish us well .
They do n't wish us well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are a declining power , but like any wounded animal , they are a dangerous animal .
Their world view is completely antithetical to ours .
We do not want them thanking God for our President and what he is pushing out .
We do n't want them thanking God for withholding money from our ally , although we can understand why they may .
And to me , that 's what stuck out from that presentation . ''

Donald Trump serves no one except himself -- and Putin. We all know Putin is his boss, his master, his puppetmaster. And his behavior regarding Ukraine solidifies it. Not only did he withhold $391 million in aid that would have helped Ukraine defend itself against Russia, but Trump continues to push the debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine actually meddled in our election - not Russia.
He also, in not so many words, suggested that Trump is Putin's b*tch.
It's one thing if someone off the street says it, but when it's coming from the President of the United States, you can see what a danger it is if it is patently false and it is promulgated by the Russians. And again, the reporter says -- and we heard from the President himself he wanted the Crowdstrike portion of this whole conspiracy investigated, and I'm hearing you saying there's no evidence to support this, and Wray says, as I said, we have no -- we at the FBI have no information that would indicate that Ukraine tried to interfere in the 2016 Presidential election, none, and so you can imagine the view from the Kremlin of all of this.
You can imagine Putin in the Kremlin with his aides when one of his aides comes into the office and says "Vladimir, you're never going to believe this. The President of the United States is pushing our Crowdstrike theory."
I mean, you can all just imagine the incredulity of Vladimir Putin. "You're kidding, right? You mean he really believes this? His own people don't believe this. Nobody believes this."
And it's not -- I mean, it would be bad enough, of course, that the President of the United States believes this Russian propaganda against the advice of all of his advisers, common sense and everything else, but it's worse than that. It's worse than that. On the basis of this Russian propaganda, he withheld $400 million in military aid to a nation Russia was fighting, our ally. I mean, when we ask about "okay, what's the national security implication of what the President did?" how much more clear can it be that he's not only pushing Russian propaganda, he's not only misleading Americans about who interfered in the last election, that he's not only doing the Kremlin a favor, but that he's withholding aid from a nation at war.
The Russians not only got him to deflect blame from their interference in our democracy, but they got him to withhold military aid. Now, of course there was this convergence of interest between the Kremlin and the President. The President wasn't pushing Kremlin talking points just to do Vladimir Putin a favor. He was doing it because it helped him, because it helped him, because it could get these talking points for him in his re-election campaign, and for that, he would sacrifice our ally and our own security. But nothing struck me more from Representative Garcia's presentation than that quote from Vladimir Putin from November of this past year, so just a couple months ago. "Thank god" Putin said - thank god nobody is accusing us anymore of interfering in U.S. Elections. Now they're accusing Ukraine. Thank God, Putin says.
Well, you've got to give Donald Trump credit for this, he has made a religious man out of Vladimir Putin, but I don't think -- I don't think we really want Vladimir Putin, our adversary, to be thanking God for the President of the United States because they don't wish us well. They don't wish us well. They are a wounded animal. They are a declining power, but like any wounded animal, they are a dangerous animal. Their world view is completely antithetical to ours. We do not want them thanking God for our President and what he is pushing out. We don't want them thanking God for withholding money from our ally, although we can understand why they may. And to me, that's what stuck out from that presentation."


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Lindsey Graham Stages Tantrum At Impeachment Presser: 'I’m Exposing Your Hatred!

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) on Wednesday excoriated Democrats for continuing the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ president , I wouldn ’ t cooperate with these guys at all , ” Graham @ @ @ @ @ press conference .
“ I wouldn ’ t give them the time of day !
@ @ @ @ @ crusade to destroy this man and they don ’ t care what they destroy in @ @ @ @ @ destroy Donald Trump.
” “ To my Democratic colleagues , you can say what you @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m covering up nothing !
” he continued .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ point that you would destroy the institution !
”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Wednesday excoriated Democrats for continuing the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
“If I was the president, I wouldn’t cooperate with these guys at all,” Graham told reporters at a Senate press conference. “I wouldn’t give them the time of day! They’re on a crusade to destroy this man and they don’t care what they destroy in the process of trying to destroy Donald Trump.”
“To my Democratic colleagues, you can say what you want about me, but I’m covering up nothing!” he continued. “I’m exposing your hatred to the point that you would destroy the institution!”


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Schumer: Distraction Witnesses Are Not Invited To Impeachment

At Thursday 's Senate Democrats ' press conference , Chuck Schumer was asked if he was considering a `` trade '' of Hunter or Joe Biden as a witness in exchange for the witnesses Democrats have demanded testify in Trump 's impeachment trial .
Roll Call : “ We don ’ t need to have witnesses that have nothing to do with this , ” he said at a Senate Democrats news conference , calling those suggestions “ a distraction.
” Pressed on whether he ’ s at all open to cutting a witness deal with Republicans , Schumer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t heard them wanting any witnesses at all.
” Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy , speaking with reporters after the news conference , said talk of a witness deal is being overblown by the media .
“ That ’ s not a conversation that ’ s happening between Republicans and Democrats , ” he said .
“ We ’ re not in the business of trading away relevant witnesses for , you know , reelection gambits of the president .
We should be talking about witnesses that have direct knowledge of the events at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
”

At Thursday's Senate Democrats' press conference, Chuck Schumer was asked if he was considering a "trade" of Hunter or Joe Biden as a witness in exchange for the witnesses Democrats have demanded testify in Trump's impeachment trial. Roll Call:
“We don’t need to have witnesses that have nothing to do with this,” he said at a Senate Democrats news conference, calling those suggestions “a distraction.”
Pressed on whether he’s at all open to cutting a witness deal with Republicans, Schumer said, “Right now we haven’t heard them wanting any witnesses at all.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, speaking with reporters after the news conference, said talk of a witness deal is being overblown by the media.
“That’s not a conversation that’s happening between Republicans and Democrats,” he said. “We’re not in the business of trading away relevant witnesses for, you know, reelection gambits of the president. We should be talking about witnesses that have direct knowledge of the events at the foundation of the case by the House.”


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--WATCH LIVE: Senate Impeachment Trial Day 3

Opening arguments in President Trump ’ s impeachment trial began on Jan. 22 in the Senate .
House managers , @ @ @ @ @ Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , will present three days of opening arguments .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ to ask questions in writing .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will read the @ @ @ @ @ the appropriate side — defense or prosecution — can answer them .

Washington Post on Youtube:
Opening arguments in President Trump’s impeachment trial began on Jan. 22 in the Senate. House managers, led by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), will present three days of opening arguments. Then, senators will have 16 hours to ask questions in writing. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will read the questions out loud, and the appropriate side — defense or prosecution — can answer them.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--George Conway's Lincoln Project Ad Targets Susan Collins

George Conway and his new group called The Lincoln Project created a second negative political ad targeting the vulnerable Senator from Maine , Susan Collins .
In the ad , they highlight the supposed `` independent '' credentials negated by her actions .
They demand that Collins do her job during the Senate impeachment trial .
While Mainers and the American people demand evidence witnesses and answers to Trump ’ s corrupt Ukranian scheme , you keep covering for Trump , ” the ad states while flashing photos of Sen. Collins and President Trump .
“ Oh sure , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughing , “ you certainly talk a good game , you ’ re ‘ concerned , ’ ‘ troubled , ’ ‘ worried.
” “ One thing you ’ re not ?
Independent.
” “ Madam Senator this time a finger wag will not cut it , you ’ re a senator , act like it .
You work for Maine , not Mitch McConnell , because Maine demands independence from our leaders.
” Early this morning CNN ran a partial clip of the ad .
Although the group has n't spent money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine , it 's a great start as it percolates on the internet and cable news programs .
This is no ploy but an actual attempt to hold Trump sycophants accountable .
And Susan Collins ' seat is very much in play .

George Conway and his new group called The Lincoln Project created a second negative political ad targeting the vulnerable Senator from Maine, Susan Collins.
In the ad, they highlight the supposed "independent" credentials negated by her actions. They demand that Collins do her job during the Senate impeachment trial.
While Mainers and the American people demand evidence witnesses and answers to Trump’s corrupt Ukranian scheme, you keep covering for Trump,” the ad states while flashing photos of Sen. Collins and President Trump. “Oh sure,” the narrator of the ad said, laughing, “you certainly talk a good game, you’re ‘concerned,’ ‘troubled,’ ‘worried.” “One thing you’re not? Independent.” “Madam Senator this time a finger wag will not cut it, you’re a senator, act like it. You work for Maine, not Mitch McConnell, because Maine demands independence from our leaders.”
Early this morning CNN ran a partial clip of the ad. Although the group hasn't spent money as of yet airing the ad in Maine, it's a great start as it percolates on the internet and cable news programs.
This is no ploy but an actual attempt to hold Trump sycophants accountable.
And Susan Collins' seat is very much in play.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Schumer Scorches Fox, GOP, At Press Conference On Impeachment

SCHUMER : `` I will say this to my Republican friends : If the American people believe this is not @ @ @ @ @ right now they seem to believe because there are no witnesses and documents , acquittal @ @ @ @ @ the president or the Republicans . ''
pic.twitter.com/fjjxfjCzA2

SCHUMER: "I will say this to my Republican friends: If the American people believe this is not a fair trial, which right now they seem to believe because there are no witnesses and documents, acquittal will have zero value to the president or the Republicans." pic.twitter.com/fjjxfjCzA2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 23, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Bloomberg Ad Takes It To Trump On His Home Turf: Fox & Friends

Fox & Friend is one of the Orange Cheetos favorite shows , yet they debuted Mike Bloomberg 's attack ad on Trump 's reported rage fit at the Pentagon .
“ 2020 hopeful Michael Bloomberg , releasing a brand new ad attacking President Trump ’ s relationship with the military , ” Brian Kilmeade said .
TRANSCRIPT : The Pentagon .
President Trump arrives for a briefing by top military leaders .
Trump explodes , attacks the war heroes in the room as ‘ losers ’ and ‘ a bunch of dopes and babies.
’ Many in the room had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soldiers , heroes , attacked by an erratic and out of control president .
Arrogance , ignorance , chaos .
Enough .
America needs a steady leader who will honor those who serve .
Then they had Bloomberg campaign manager , Kevin Sheekey , as a guest .
Now , this being Fox , I 'm sure they attacked the ad after Sheekey left .
But I do n't think that matters .
Because a couple of things are notable : This was a really bold move by Bloomberg to , basically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home turf .
I certainly like that kind of aggression , and so do voters .
We 'll need it to beat Trump .
And Bloomberg 's numbers are moving up fast .
If nothing else , he will raise the aggression bar for the other candidates because he 's getting results .

Fox & Friend is one of the Orange Cheetos favorite shows, yet they debuted Mike Bloomberg's attack ad on Trump's reported rage fit at the Pentagon.
“2020 hopeful Michael Bloomberg, releasing a brand new ad attacking President Trump’s relationship with the military,” Brian Kilmeade said.
TRANSCRIPT: The Pentagon. President Trump arrives for a briefing by top military leaders. Trump explodes, attacks the war heroes in the room as ‘losers’ and ‘a bunch of dopes and babies.’ Many in the room had risked their lives for our country. Soldiers, heroes, attacked by an erratic and out of control president. Arrogance, ignorance, chaos. Enough. America needs a steady leader who will honor those who serve.
Then they had Bloomberg campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, as a guest.
Now, this being Fox, I'm sure they attacked the ad after Sheekey left. But I don't think that matters. Because a couple of things are notable: This was a really bold move by Bloomberg to, basically, kick Trump in the teeth on his home turf. I certainly like that kind of aggression, and so do voters. We'll need it to beat Trump.
And Bloomberg's numbers are moving up fast. If nothing else, he will raise the aggression bar for the other candidates because he's getting results.


crooksandliars--2020-01-23--Steve Mnuchin Orders Greta Thunberg To 'Study Economics' And Shut Up

During press briefing Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , former Goldman Sachs banker and current U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin dismissed Greta Thunberg 's call for complete divestment from fossil fuels and condescendingly told the 17-year-old climate activist to go study economics .
`` Is she the chief economist ?
Who is she ?
I 'm confused , '' Mnuchin said .
`` After she goes and studies economics in college , she can come back and explain that to us . ''
Critics immediately hit back at Mnuchin 's suggestion that one need have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of the climate emergency and the steps necessary to avert global catastrophe .
`` Here 's what Mnuchin learned from economics studies : as the 'foreclosure king , ' he ran a company that booted elderly residents from their homes due to onerous loans and technicalities , '' tweeted Miller Center fellow Chris Lu , referring to Mnuchin 's destructive tenure as CEO of OneWest Bank .
Author and environmentalist Naomi Klein pointed to the thousands of academics who have echoed Thunberg 's call for fossil fuel divestment : Mnuchin 's swipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned Tuesday in a speech to the World Economic Forum that global elites are `` fueling the flames '' of the climate crisis `` by the hour . ''
`` We demand at this year 's World Economic Forum , participants from all companies , banks , institutions , and governments : Immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction .
Immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies .
And immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels , '' said Thunberg .
`` We do n't want these things done by 2050 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We want this done now . ''
Anticipating attacks from elites like Mnuchin , Thunberg added : `` It may seem like we 're asking for a lot .
And you will of course say that we are naïve .
But this is just the very minimum amount of effort that is needed to start the rapid sustainable transition . ''
`` So either you do this or you 're going to have to explain to your children why you are giving up on the 1.5-degree target , '' said Thunberg .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm here to tell you that , unlike you , my generation will not give up without a fight . ''

During press briefing Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, former Goldman Sachs banker and current U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin dismissed Greta Thunberg's call for complete divestment from fossil fuels and condescendingly told the 17-year-old climate activist to go study economics.
"Is she the chief economist? Who is she? I'm confused," Mnuchin said. "After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us."
Critics immediately hit back at Mnuchin's suggestion that one need have a degree in economics to understand the severity of the climate emergency and the steps necessary to avert global catastrophe.
"Here's what Mnuchin learned from economics studies: as the 'foreclosure king,' he ran a company that booted elderly residents from their homes due to onerous loans and technicalities," tweeted Miller Center fellow Chris Lu, referring to Mnuchin's destructive tenure as CEO of OneWest Bank.
Author and environmentalist Naomi Klein pointed to the thousands of academics who have echoed Thunberg's call for fossil fuel divestment:
Somebody should tell Mnuchin about the hundreds of Harvard faculty members - and thousands at other universities - who have called for fossil fuel divestment too. https://t.co/t3VhdYvQSE https://t.co/1aaGTUknRZ — Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) January 23, 2020
Other critics piled on:
Look at #Mnuchin, this smug clown. #GretaThunberg has more integrity and wisdom in her pinky toe than a thousand Mnuchins. These Trump cronies are wretched people, truly.https://t.co/oFPNB1UDee — Peter Daou (@peterdaou) January 23, 2020 Steve Mnuchin thinks Greta Thunberg needs an economic education, where she can take courses like "strip-mining Sears assets 103" and "forging signatures to take homes away from people 204" https://t.co/DwSzfgxsg3 — David Dayen (@ddayen) January 23, 2020
Mnuchin's swipe at Thunberg came after the Swedish activist warned Tuesday in a speech to the World Economic Forum that global elites are "fueling the flames" of the climate crisis "by the hour."
"We demand at this year's World Economic Forum, participants from all companies, banks, institutions, and governments: Immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction. Immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies. And immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels," said Thunberg. "We don't want these things done by 2050, 2030, or even 2021. We want this done now."
Anticipating attacks from elites like Mnuchin, Thunberg added: "It may seem like we're asking for a lot. And you will of course say that we are naïve. But this is just the very minimum amount of effort that is needed to start the rapid sustainable transition."
"So either you do this or you're going to have to explain to your children why you are giving up on the 1.5-degree target," said Thunberg. "Giving up without even trying. Well I'm here to tell you that, unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.