crooksandliars--2020-06-16--'False Choice Idea': Stacey Abrams Calls For Two Big-Picture Changes With Law Enforcement

Appearing on ABC News ’ This Week on Sunday morning , former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams weighed in on a debate that ’ s created waves among Democrats and the progressive left as protests for justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor continue across the nation .
Should police departments be defunded ?
If so , what does that look like ?
Where would the money go ?
Host George Stephanopoulos asked Abrams : “ What does defunding the police mean to you , and is it necessary ?
” As Abrams argued , we are being “ drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that , ultimately , “ fundamentally we must have reformation and transformation.
” First , Abrams argues , “ we need reformation of how police officers do their job , how law enforcement does its job.
” In addition to that , Abrams calls for “ a transformation of how we view the role of law enforcement , how we view the construct of public safety , and how we invest not only in the work that we need them to do to protect us but the work that we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” To begin , Abrams referenced Rayshard Brooks , a Black man who was shot and killed by a white police officer at a Wendy ’ s drive-thru in Atlanta , Georgia on Friday night , resulting in the officer being fired and the police chief resigning .
`` What happened yesterday to Rayshard Brooks was a function of excessive force , ” Abrams stated .
“ A decision that they were either embarrassed or panicked led them to murder a man they knew only had a taser in his hand . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breonna Taylor means we have to reform no-knock warrants , ” Abrams continued .
She added that in Georgia , for example , “ we have to look at the larger judicial issues , ” and that “ reformation is absolutely important , '' using the fatal shooting of Ahmad Arbery as an example .
Though Breonna Taylor , who was shot and killed by police in March , received little mainstream media attention at the time , her name is finally being highlighted and centered in recent days , especially in terms @ @ @ @ @

Appearing on ABC News’ This Week on Sunday morning, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams weighed in on a debate that’s created waves among Democrats and the progressive left as protests for justice for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor continue across the nation. Should police departments be defunded? If so, what does that look like? Where would the money go? Host George Stephanopoulos asked Abrams: “What does defunding the police mean to you, and is it necessary?” As Abrams argued, we are being “drawn into a false choice idea,” and that, ultimately, “fundamentally we must have reformation and transformation.”
First, Abrams argues, “we need reformation of how police officers do their job, how law enforcement does its job.” In addition to that, Abrams calls for “a transformation of how we view the role of law enforcement, how we view the construct of public safety, and how we invest not only in the work that we need them to do to protect us but the work that we need to do to protect and build our communities.”
To begin, Abrams referenced Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who was shot and killed by a white police officer at a Wendy’s drive-thru in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday night, resulting in the officer being fired and the police chief resigning. "What happened yesterday to Rayshard Brooks was a function of excessive force,” Abrams stated. “A decision that they were either embarrassed or panicked led them to murder a man they knew only had a taser in his hand."
"We know that the murder of Breonna Taylor means we have to reform no-knock warrants,” Abrams continued. She added that in Georgia, for example, “we have to look at the larger judicial issues,” and that “reformation is absolutely important," using the fatal shooting of Ahmad Arbery as an example. Though Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police in March, received little mainstream media attention at the time, her name is finally being highlighted and centered in recent days, especially in terms of no-knock warrant bans.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-06-16--Mike Pence Lets It Slip: Fox News Is About Re-Electing Trump

The Vice President joined Trump TV 's morning show and performed his usual duty of obfuscating and lying about Trump 's reaction to the death of George Floyd , his pro-law enforcement support of the police over BLM , and his phony declarations that the administration has helped Black America more than anybody before them .
Host Brian Kilmeade told Pence that even the friendly Rasmussen polls are bad , and asked if he was worried about the recent very negative polling against Trump .
The VP went on a long rant about the 2016 election and then claimed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overthrow Trump , but he framed it curiously not to offend his current sycophants .
Pence said , `` I sense a tremendous amount of enthusiasm [ for Trump 's reelection ] despite present company excepted , present network excepted , despite the overwhelming opposition not just from Democrats but from their allies in the media . ''
In other words , Pence thanked Fox News for being pro-Trump and helping with his reelection campaign .
The function of any credible news outlet is to report on facts as they are given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done or try to reinterpret his intentions regardless of the words and actions spoken by Trump .
By the way , the polling in 2016 turned against Hillary after the former head of the FBI James Comey produced his October surprise by bringing Clinton 's emails back to the forefront and in effect claiming there would be more investigations into her private server .
And Hillary won by almost 3 million votes .
Ahem .
Both Trump and Clinton 's personal pollsters said their polling turned after Comey 's revelations .
Also , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bully pulpit .
He 's not a `` what have you got to lose '' candidate any longer , so vastly negative polls for his first term are not outliers , but reflections of his presidency .
A lot can still happen before November , but these polls are not `` ginned up '' or `` rigged '' against Trump -- they are accurate snapshots of how the electorate is reacting to the disastrous Trump presidency .

The Vice President joined Trump TV's morning show and performed his usual duty of obfuscating and lying about Trump's reaction to the death of George Floyd, his pro-law enforcement support of the police over BLM, and his phony declarations that the administration has helped Black America more than anybody before them.
Host Brian Kilmeade told Pence that even the friendly Rasmussen polls are bad, and asked if he was worried about the recent very negative polling against Trump.
The VP went on a long rant about the 2016 election and then claimed the media is in cahoots with the Democrats to overthrow Trump, but he framed it curiously not to offend his current sycophants.
Pence said, "I sense a tremendous amount of enthusiasm [for Trump's reelection] despite present company excepted, present network excepted, despite the overwhelming opposition not just from Democrats but from their allies in the media."
In other words, Pence thanked Fox News for being pro-Trump and helping with his reelection campaign.
The function of any credible news outlet is to report on facts as they are given and not rewrite what was said and done or try to reinterpret his intentions regardless of the words and actions spoken by Trump.
By the way, the polling in 2016 turned against Hillary after the former head of the FBI James Comey produced his October surprise by bringing Clinton's emails back to the forefront and in effect claiming there would be more investigations into her private server. And Hillary won by almost 3 million votes. Ahem.
Both Trump and Clinton's personal pollsters said their polling turned after Comey's revelations.
Also, Trump is now the incumbent president with the bully pulpit. He's not a "what have you got to lose" candidate any longer, so vastly negative polls for his first term are not outliers, but reflections of his presidency.
A lot can still happen before November, but these polls are not "ginned up" or "rigged" against Trump -- they are accurate snapshots of how the electorate is reacting to the disastrous Trump presidency.


crooksandliars--2020-06-16--Mnuchin Won't Release Names Of Loan Recipients. What Are You Hiding, Steve?

Government watchdogs told Congress last week that previously unknown Trump administration legal decisions are blocking their ability to oversee more than $ 1 trillion in pandemic spending .
Via the Washington Post : In a letter to four congressional committee chairs Thursday , two officials in charge of a new government watchdog entity revealed that the Trump administration had issued legal rulings curtailing independent oversight of Cares Act funding .
The letter surfaced amid growing bipartisan frustration over the administration ’ s decision not to disclose how it is spending hundreds of billions in aid for businesses .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bow to that pressure , saying he would work with Congress on new oversight measures .
But some Democrats have said the White House is not taking disclosure requests seriously enough .
“ They seem to be saying one thing while doing exactly the opposite , ” said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney ( D-N.Y. ) , chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee .
“ If the Trump administration is committed to full cooperation and transparency with taxpayer dollars , it is unclear why it is manufacturing legal loopholes to avoid responding to legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undisclosed letter , Treasury Department attorneys concluded that the administration is not required to provide the watchdogs with information about the beneficiaries of programs created by the Cares Act ’ s “ Division A.
” That section includes some of the most controversial and expensive programs in the coronavirus response efforts , including the administration ’ s massive bailout for small businesses and nearly $ 500 billion in loans for corporations .

Government watchdogs told Congress last week that previously unknown Trump administration legal decisions are blocking their ability to oversee more than $1 trillion in pandemic spending. Via the Washington Post:
In a letter to four congressional committee chairs Thursday, two officials in charge of a new government watchdog entity revealed that the Trump administration had issued legal rulings curtailing independent oversight of Cares Act funding.
The letter surfaced amid growing bipartisan frustration over the administration’s decision not to disclose how it is spending hundreds of billions in aid for businesses. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared to bow to that pressure, saying he would work with Congress on new oversight measures. But some Democrats have said the White House is not taking disclosure requests seriously enough.
“They seem to be saying one thing while doing exactly the opposite,” said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee. “If the Trump administration is committed to full cooperation and transparency with taxpayer dollars, it is unclear why it is manufacturing legal loopholes to avoid responding to legitimate oversight requests.”
According to the previously undisclosed letter, Treasury Department attorneys concluded that the administration is not required to provide the watchdogs with information about the beneficiaries of programs created by the Cares Act’s “Division A.” That section includes some of the most controversial and expensive programs in the coronavirus response efforts, including the administration’s massive bailout for small businesses and nearly $500 billion in loans for corporations.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Trump: Obama, Biden Had 'No Idea' How To Reform Police. Let's Roll The Tape!

Morning Joe did a little compare and contrast on police reform this morning after Trump insisted yesterday President Obama and Vice President Biden `` never even tried to fix this . ''
So they rolled the long tape that contradicted Trump 's assertion of non-reality .
`` Obvious fact-check there on President Trump 's claim about his predecessor 's efforts to reform policing .
In fact , the Trump administration has spent much of its time unraveling those Obama administration police reforms , '' Mika Brzezinski pointed out .
`` You know , Willie , it would be as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing how to properly walk down a ramp and drink a glass of water , '' Joe Scarborough said .
`` I think the term 'gas lighting ' has been overused in the last few years , but that is explicit gas lighting , which is to say , telling us something is true that is demonstrably not true , '' Willie Geist said .
`` Obviously , President Obama and his administration , they launched an initiative to allow the Justice Department to investigate police departments as they did in Ferguson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration backpedaled on that , unrolled that .
Shortly before that , as you heard there , President Obama announced an initiative to stop selling surplus military equipment to police departments .
The Trump administration undid that as well .
There 's a long list .
He 's just making things up and he did it again yesterday . ''

Morning Joe did a little compare and contrast on police reform this morning after Trump insisted yesterday President Obama and Vice President Biden "never even tried to fix this."
So they rolled the long tape that contradicted Trump's assertion of non-reality.
"Obvious fact-check there on President Trump's claim about his predecessor's efforts to reform policing. In fact, the Trump administration has spent much of its time unraveling those Obama administration police reforms," Mika Brzezinski pointed out.
"You know, Willie, it would be as if Donald Trump criticized his predecessor for not knowing how to properly walk down a ramp and drink a glass of water," Joe Scarborough said.
"I think the term 'gas lighting' has been overused in the last few years, but that is explicit gas lighting, which is to say, telling us something is true that is demonstrably not true," Willie Geist said.
"Obviously, President Obama and his administration, they launched an initiative to allow the Justice Department to investigate police departments as they did in Ferguson, Missouri, for example. The Trump administration backpedaled on that, unrolled that. Shortly before that, as you heard there, President Obama announced an initiative to stop selling surplus military equipment to police departments. The Trump administration undid that as well. There's a long list. He's just making things up and he did it again yesterday."


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Laura Ingraham Smears Dr. Fauci As Part Of ‘The Medical Deep State’

Although Ingraham said nothing about defying her own company ’ s plan to keep her working from the safety of her home until at least the end of July , she suggested that Trump and the rest of us should pay no attention to the spike of cases and consider the COVID-19 pandemic over .
INGRAHAM : Democrats just wish that the president would just put off campaigning indefinitely , obviously .
Or , ideally , until after the election of Joe Biden who , all things considered , they ’ d just prefer to stay in his basement until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a man obviously suffering from media withdrawals , he resurfaced over the weekend in what can only be described as a one-man effort to depress us all .
Now that we ’ re slowly starting to get our lives back , ever so slowly , he told a British newspaper , `` I would hope that we could get back to some degree of normality within a year or so .
But I do n't think it 's this winter or fall . ''
The medical deep state strikes again .
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us is that the president and his campaign should simply not react to any of this alarmist COVID drivel from here on out .
None of these people , sadly including Dr. Fauci , can be really taken all that seriously anymore given what we 've seen , because science , just like journalism and entertainment , has become obscenely politicized .

Although Ingraham said nothing about defying her own company’s plan to keep her working from the safety of her home until at least the end of July, she suggested that Trump and the rest of us should pay no attention to the spike of cases and consider the COVID-19 pandemic over.
INGRAHAM: Democrats just wish that the president would just put off campaigning indefinitely, obviously. Or, ideally, until after the election of Joe Biden who, all things considered, they’d just prefer to stay in his basement until Inauguration Day.
Meanwhile, Anthony Fauci, a man obviously suffering from media withdrawals, he resurfaced over the weekend in what can only be described as a one-man effort to depress us all.
Now that we’re slowly starting to get our lives back, ever so slowly, he told a British newspaper, "I would hope that we could get back to some degree of normality within a year or so. But I don't think it's this winter or fall."
The medical deep state strikes again. Well, the bottom line for all of us is that the president and his campaign should simply not react to any of this alarmist COVID drivel from here on out.
None of these people, sadly including Dr. Fauci, can be really taken all that seriously anymore given what we've seen, because science, just like journalism and entertainment, has become obscenely politicized.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--DOJ Sues John Bolton To Stop Publication Of His Book

The Bill Barr Department of Injustice has filed a civil action against John Bolton to prevent him from publishing his upcoming book exposing the incompetence of the Trump administration .
This is not shocking at all .
The White House slow-walked the review and approval of the book for months .
Now that the release date is upon us - just 7 days ( June 23rd ) - they have realized there is not much they can do .
The book is printed .
It is coming .
So now their only option is straight up revenge and retaliation towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But further analysis shows that this actually wo n't stop publication - they just do n't want Bolton to profit from it .
Here is a real breakdown of the filing , what it means and what the DOJ is attempting to do : Pretty much sums it up : The discovery will be very interesting and may shed light on things Donald Trump does not want coming out .
Just another example of the politicization of the Department of Justice to act as the personal law firm for the most corrupt President* @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Bill Barr Department of Injustice has filed a civil action against John Bolton to prevent him from publishing his upcoming book exposing the incompetence of the Trump administration. This is not shocking at all. The White House slow-walked the review and approval of the book for months. Now that the release date is upon us - just 7 days (June 23rd) - they have realized there is not much they can do. The book is printed. It is coming. So now their only option is straight up revenge and retaliation towards Bolton.
Here is the filing:
The Justice Department has just filed a lawsuit seeking to block publication of former national security adviser @AmbJohnBolton's forthcoming book, per complaint filed in United States of America v. Bolton.
Here is what the Justice Department is seeking: pic.twitter.com/PaVvJwR16U — Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) June 16, 2020
More context:
Context: Bolton submitted his manuscript for standard pre-publication review to the NSC in December.
Since then, Bolton & WH have been locked in a dispute over whether the book contains classified information.
Bolton pushed back initial publication date, but is now moving forward — Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) June 16, 2020
But further analysis shows that this actually won't stop publication - they just don't want Bolton to profit from it.
Dear media headline writers: please stop saying DOJ is suing to stop publication of Bolton's book. Unless the government also files for a temporary restraining order, then this lawsuit will NOT stop publication.
The lawsuit is about the book financial proceeds, nothing more. — Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) June 16, 2020
Here is a real breakdown of the filing, what it means and what the DOJ is attempting to do:
BREAKING: DOJ files civil action against John Bolton, to prevent him publishing upcoming book. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/di6FlHYp4t — Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) June 16, 2020
Pretty much sums it up:
Trump: Bolton's book is all lies.
Also Trump: Everything in Bolton's book is classified. — Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) June 16, 2020
The discovery will be very interesting and may shed light on things Donald Trump does not want coming out. Just another example of the politicization of the Department of Justice to act as the personal law firm for the most corrupt President* in the history of our country.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Tulsa Lawsuit Wants Court To Mandate Face Masks At Potential 'Super Spreader' Trump Rally

A lawsuit filed by attorneys in Oklahoma seeks to prevent President Donald Trump ’ s campaign from causing a “ super spreader ” event by holding a rally in Tulsa later this month without proper safety precautions .
Venue management company ASM Global is named as a defendant in the lawsuit .
The filing asks the court to require health measures like facial masks if the event goes forward .
“ Plaintiffs seek limited relief based on Oklahoma ’ s public nuisance laws , ” the complaint states .
“ Plaintiffs merely seek a court order requiring ASM Global to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 20 event , including the mandatory use of face masks and social distancing rules for all guests and employees , as recommended by state , local , and federal authorities , and by every credible and qualified medical expert who has studied this issue .
Simply put , this Court should order ASM Global to follow the same rules that any other individual or business desiring to host a mass-gathering indoor event in Tulsa County would be required to follow.
” The rally is scheduled to be held on June 20 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said that face masks and hand sanitizer will be distributed but not required .

A lawsuit filed by attorneys in Oklahoma seeks to prevent President Donald Trump’s campaign from causing a “super spreader” event by holding a rally in Tulsa later this month without proper safety precautions.
Venue management company ASM Global is named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The filing asks the court to require health measures like facial masks if the event goes forward.
“Plaintiffs seek limited relief based on Oklahoma’s public nuisance laws,” the complaint states. “Plaintiffs merely seek a court order requiring ASM Global to institute appropriate social distancing protocols for the June 20 event, including the mandatory use of face masks and social distancing rules for all guests and employees, as recommended by state, local, and federal authorities, and by every credible and qualified medical expert who has studied this issue. Simply put, this Court should order ASM Global to follow the same rules that any other individual or business desiring to host a mass-gathering indoor event in Tulsa County would be required to follow.”
The rally is scheduled to be held on June 20 at the BOK Center. The Trump campaign has said that face masks and hand sanitizer will be distributed but not required.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Elizabeth Warren Endorses Primary Challenger Jamaal Bowman In NY-16

A really interesting dynamic emerging in the Democratic primary election in NY-16 ahead of next week 's vote .
Progressives are lining up to support the challenger , with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Bernie Sanders , and others supporting Bowman .
More traditional politicians who 've known Rep. Engel for years and even decades , like once New York Senator Hillary Clinton , have voiced their support .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren plans to endorse Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday , throwing her support in a closely watched Democratic primary race behind a middle school principal who has garnered backing from big-name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Rep. Eliot Engel .
`` He is exactly the kind of person we need in Congress fighting for big , structural change .
Whether it 's fighting for high-quality public schools , affordable housing , or rooting out systemic racism , Jamaal Bowman will be a champion for working people in Washington , '' Warren will say in an endorsement statement obtained by CNN .
`` Senator Warren knows it 's not enough to keep electing Democrats that will only nibble around the edges , and it 's why I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York 's 16th District , '' Bowman will say in the release .
Warren 's endorsement is the latest example of the growing progressive momentum behind Bowman , who is challenging Engel , a long-serving and influential Democrat in Congress with significant establishment support .
New York will hold its primary election on Tuesday , June 23 .
Warren 's endorsement comes the day after The New York Times reported Hillary Clinton 's endorsement of Engel , marking the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee 's first primary endorsement in a 2020 House @ @

A really interesting dynamic emerging in the Democratic primary election in NY-16 ahead of next week's vote. Progressives are lining up to support the challenger, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and others supporting Bowman. More traditional politicians who've known Rep. Engel for years and even decades, like once New York Senator Hillary Clinton, have voiced their support.
Source: CNN
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren plans to endorse Jamaal Bowman on Tuesday, throwing her support in a closely watched Democratic primary race behind a middle school principal who has garnered backing from big-name progressive leaders in his challenge against longtime New York Rep. Eliot Engel.
"He is exactly the kind of person we need in Congress fighting for big, structural change. Whether it's fighting for high-quality public schools, affordable housing, or rooting out systemic racism, Jamaal Bowman will be a champion for working people in Washington," Warren will say in an endorsement statement obtained by CNN.
"Senator Warren knows it's not enough to keep electing Democrats that will only nibble around the edges, and it's why I am running to make big, structural change in New York's 16th District," Bowman will say in the release.
Warren's endorsement is the latest example of the growing progressive momentum behind Bowman, who is challenging Engel, a long-serving and influential Democrat in Congress with significant establishment support. New York will hold its primary election on Tuesday, June 23.
Warren's endorsement comes the day after The New York Times reported Hillary Clinton's endorsement of Engel, marking the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee's first primary endorsement in a 2020 House race.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Fox Dumped Trump Speech, Aired Biden Ripping His COVID-19 Response Instead

Filed under “ Pigs Fly ” : Fox News cut away from Donald Trump ’ s speech , then aired Joe Biden shredding Trump for trolling his enemies on Twitter harder than he fights the pandemic .
As Contemptor ’ s Richard W. showed , Fox bailed on Trump at 2:28 ET : But a few minutes later , Fox aired Biden .
It was a doozy of a speech : BIDEN : Donald Trump ’ s failure to fight the coronavirus with the same energy and focus that he uses to troll his enemies on Twitter has cost us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economic recovery at risk .
Jobs numbers and retail sales reports were better than expected in May .
That ’ s great news for our country .
But now Donald Trump ’ s desire to declare victory and be done with it is only going to imperil the continued progress we have to make .
Our economy is still sputtering , with more than 20 million people unemployed and no clear guidance from the federal government for what businesses need to do to re-open safely , efficiently and generate a strong recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about whether to reopen — it ’ s about how we make reopening work for everyone .
The employees at the White House , they get daily COVID-19 tests .
They know they ’ re safe before they go to work — and they know their co-workers are safe .
They have the confidence to resume their lives .
Workers across the country aren ’ t asking for daily testing — they ’ re just asking for regular , reliable access to tests .
Don ’ t they deserve that ?
So it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t recognize the importance of testing .
It ’ s that he ’ s not up to the task .
Or doesn ’ t care .
And now , he ’ s seemingly decided that he doesn ’ t even want to try .
But just like he couldn ’ t wish COVID-19 away in March , just like he couldn ’ t tweet it away in April — he can ’ t ignore it away in June .
The full speech is amazing , one of Biden ’ s best .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Trump Twitter meltdown .

Filed under “Pigs Fly”: Fox News cut away from Donald Trump’s speech, then aired Joe Biden shredding Trump for trolling his enemies on Twitter harder than he fights the pandemic.
Vox’s Aaron Rupar called Trump’s VA speech a “word salad”:
As Contemptor’s Richard W. showed, Fox bailed on Trump at 2:28 ET:
But a few minutes later, Fox aired Biden.
Fox News cut away from Trump’s speech and then broadcast Biden eviscerating his coronavirus response, which can’t make Trump happy pic.twitter.com/ex8LNdx5Ou
It was a doozy of a speech:
BIDEN: Donald Trump’s failure to fight the coronavirus with the same energy and focus that he uses to troll his enemies on Twitter has cost us lives — and is putting hope for an economic recovery at risk.
Jobs numbers and retail sales reports were better than expected in May. That’s great news for our country. But now Donald Trump’s desire to declare victory and be done with it is only going to imperil the continued progress we have to make.
Our economy is still sputtering, with more than 20 million people unemployed and no clear guidance from the federal government for what businesses need to do to re-open safely, efficiently and generate a strong recovery.
This isn’t a debate about whether to reopen — it’s about how we make reopening work for everyone.
The employees at the White House, they get daily COVID-19 tests. They know they’re safe before they go to work — and they know their co-workers are safe. They have the confidence to resume their lives.
Workers across the country aren’t asking for daily testing — they’re just asking for regular, reliable access to tests. Don’t they deserve that?
So it’s not that Donald Trump doesn’t recognize the importance of testing. It’s that he’s not up to the task. Or doesn’t care. And now, he’s seemingly decided that he doesn’t even want to try.
But just like he couldn’t wish COVID-19 away in March, just like he couldn’t tweet it away in April — he can’t ignore it away in June.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--'He's Full Of Shit': John Bolton's Book Dishes Dirt On Pompeo, China, And More

Peter Baker gives us a sneak peak at John Bolton 's memoir , set to be released next week , and it 's filled with dirt about Trump , his minions , and how they really feel about him .
Spoiler alert .
They know he 's a sham .
By itself , it does n't sound particularly revelatory , since this is not the first book by an administration insider to be published .
I just finished `` A Very Stable Genius , '' and there were plenty gobsmacking details in there about the ignoramus-in-chief , the lickspittles who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the few grown ups who dared raise their hands to object .
No other book , though , is written by someone so high up in the administration , nor whose publication Trump has gone to such great lengths to stop .
Nicolle Wallace 's intro lists just a few of the reasons why : WALLACE : Quote , Mr. Bolton describes several episodes where the president expressed willingness to halt criminal investigations .
Quote , `` to in effect give personal favors to dictators he liked , citing cases involving major firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` the pattern looked like obstruction of justice as a way of life , which we could n't accept , '' Mr. Bolton writes , adding that he reported his concerns to Attorney General Barr .
On the topic of impeachment , Baker adds this .
Quote , `` The book confirms House testimony that Bolton was wary of all along of the president 's actions with regard to Ukraine , and that Trump explicitly linked the security aid to investigations involving Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton . ''
On August 20th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` said he was n't in favor of sending them anything until all the Russia investigation materials related to Clinton and Biden had been turned over . ''
Bolton writes that he , Pompeo , and Mark Esper tried eight to ten times to get Trump to release the aid.
[ ... ] Peter Baker , he also writes that Mike Pompeo said behind Donald Trump 's back , `` He 's full of shit . ''
Tell us some of the other good scoop in here , before everybody remembers how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not participating in that Senate impeachment trial .
I do n't know about you , but I like Potty-Mouth Nicolle .
Furthermore , I am perfectly capable of hearing all there is to hear in Bolton 's book without losing sight of what a traitorous , cowardly piece of sh*t he is for not coming forward with it when it might have actually helped the nation .
As usual , Wallace brought things around to where they belonged : on the illegality and wrongdoing .
WALLACE : Neal Katyal , it 's easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depiction of Donald Trump as a buffoon .
I mean , stupidity that he details is staggering .
But what rings through , is that if he was anyone but the president , there are probably a half a dozen instances that I read in Peter 's story , that anyone else would be referred to DOJ for prosecution .
I mean , is the corruption criminal ?
KATYAL : It very well could be , so I mean , I think that that 's exactly the right question .
I know lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his motivation and stuff .
The story here is not Bolton .
The story is Donald Trump and the fact that his top aide , his former National Security Adviser , is documenting a pattern of definitely impeachable and indeed criminal conduct here .
And that is just an astounding thing .
And the irony for Bolton is that he writes this book , which is all about how the president is abusing his national security powers in aid of his personal political goals .
And now Bolton faces a lawsuit for exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which the president has politicized the pre-classification review process to try to stop publication of the book .
It 's obviously not working .
Peter 's already got a copy of it .
But has done that in and displaced the career officials who do that with political apparatchiks who have tried to hold up the book and now they have gone to court to try to stop him .
It wo n't work , it 's not working already , but it shows a desperate and frankly incompetent administrative move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bolton is n't the story .
He wants the attention and the praise ( and the money ... ) , but let 's not give him ANY of that .
Focus on the criminality detailed , let the book LEAK ( do n't spend a dime , please ) , and let Congress subpoena Bolton to testify on the material he has put out there into the public eye .
This coward deserves nothing but derision .

Peter Baker gives us a sneak peak at John Bolton's memoir, set to be released next week, and it's filled with dirt about Trump, his minions, and how they really feel about him. Spoiler alert. They know he's a sham.
By itself, it doesn't sound particularly revelatory, since this is not the first book by an administration insider to be published. I just finished "A Very Stable Genius," and there were plenty gobsmacking details in there about the ignoramus-in-chief, the lickspittles who cater to his every whim, and the few grown ups who dared raise their hands to object.
No other book, though, is written by someone so high up in the administration, nor whose publication Trump has gone to such great lengths to stop. Nicolle Wallace's intro lists just a few of the reasons why:
WALLACE: Quote, Mr. Bolton describes several episodes where the president expressed willingness to halt criminal investigations. Quote, "to in effect give personal favors to dictators he liked, citing cases involving major firms in China and Turkey." Quote, "the pattern looked like obstruction of justice as a way of life, which we couldn't accept," Mr. Bolton writes, adding that he reported his concerns to Attorney General Barr. On the topic of impeachment, Baker adds this. Quote, "The book confirms House testimony that Bolton was wary of all along of the president's actions with regard to Ukraine, and that Trump explicitly linked the security aid to investigations involving Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton." On August 20th, Bolton writes, Trump, quote, "said he wasn't in favor of sending them anything until all the Russia investigation materials related to Clinton and Biden had been turned over." Bolton writes that he, Pompeo, and Mark Esper tried eight to ten times to get Trump to release the aid.[...] Peter Baker, he also writes that Mike Pompeo said behind Donald Trump's back, "He's full of shit." Tell us some of the other good scoop in here, before everybody remembers how angry they are at John Bolton for not participating in that Senate impeachment trial.
I don't know about you, but I like Potty-Mouth Nicolle. Furthermore, I am perfectly capable of hearing all there is to hear in Bolton's book without losing sight of what a traitorous, cowardly piece of sh*t he is for not coming forward with it when it might have actually helped the nation.
As usual, Wallace brought things around to where they belonged: on the illegality and wrongdoing.
WALLACE: Neal Katyal, it's easy to be blinded by John Bolton's depiction of Donald Trump as a buffoon. I mean, stupidity that he details is staggering. But what rings through, is that if he was anyone but the president, there are probably a half a dozen instances that I read in Peter's story, that anyone else would be referred to DOJ for prosecution. I mean, is the corruption criminal? KATYAL: It very well could be, so I mean, I think that that's exactly the right question. I know lot of people are focusing on Bolton and his motivation and stuff. The story here is not Bolton. The story is Donald Trump and the fact that his top aide, his former National Security Adviser, is documenting a pattern of definitely impeachable and indeed criminal conduct here. And that is just an astounding thing. And the irony for Bolton is that he writes this book, which is all about how the president is abusing his national security powers in aid of his personal political goals. And now Bolton faces a lawsuit for exactly that. The same course of conduct, in which the president has politicized the pre-classification review process to try to stop publication of the book. It's obviously not working. Peter's already got a copy of it. But has done that in and displaced the career officials who do that with political apparatchiks who have tried to hold up the book and now they have gone to court to try to stop him. It won't work, it's not working already, but it shows a desperate and frankly incompetent administrative move.
I really like Katyal's take. Bolton isn't the story. He wants the attention and the praise (and the money...), but let's not give him ANY of that. Focus on the criminality detailed, let the book LEAK (don't spend a dime, please), and let Congress subpoena Bolton to testify on the material he has put out there into the public eye. This coward deserves nothing but derision.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--GOP Money Pours In To Try And Save Eliot Engel In NY-16

The longtime Democratic congressman is locked in a life or death primary fight and looks to be in some trouble .
With Jamaal Bowman breathing down his neck , Engel is counting on boatloads of cash from Republican Super PAC 's to save his bacon .
As Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee , Engel has proven to be a valuable ally for conservatives who want to bolster their own interests , Israel 's interests chief among them .
A REPUBLICAN SUPER PAC is funding an outside effort to help reelect Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel , locked in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The super PAC is called Americans for Tomorrow ’ s Future , following in the proud tradition of nonsensically named political action committees .
The connections to the GOP are apparent enough that the Center for Responsive Politics lists it as “ Republican/Conservative.
” The PAC ’ s treasurer , David Satterfield , is a former aide to one-time Republican Senate Leader Bill Frist .
Satterfield works now at Huckaby Davis Lisker , a prominent firm that does election compliance and accounting work for Republican campaigns .
This cycle , the firm is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senatorial Committee , National Republican Congressional Committee , and the campaign of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , among dozens of other GOP operations .
The PAC , presumably due to its visible Republican ties , is not spending directly in Engel ’ s New York primary .
Instead , it funneled $ 100,000 to another super PAC , called Democratic Majority for Israel , on May 27 .
DMFI , a controversial operation inside the Democratic coalition , spent heavily against Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary , with help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AIPAC , The Intercept reported in February .
Since cashing the Americans for Tomorrow ’ s Future check , DMFI has spent more than $ 600,000 boosting Engel and hitting Bowman on TV , and with digital ads , mailers , and paid phone banking .
DMFI has not spent money on any other race since taking money from the GOP operation .
The congressman , who ’ s been in office for over three decades , is the chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee , where he has served since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been particularly conservative on policy toward Israel , even as the base of the Democratic Party moves leftward on the U.S.-Israel alliance .
Pro-Israel groups have contributed more than $ 1.3 million to Engel over the course of his career .
NORPAC , another pro-Israel PAC , is Engel ’ s second largest contributor this cycle , after the Pro-Israel America PAC , and has given his campaigns $ 132,509 throughout his career .

The longtime Democratic congressman is locked in a life or death primary fight and looks to be in some trouble. With Jamaal Bowman breathing down his neck, Engel is counting on boatloads of cash from Republican Super PAC's to save his bacon. As Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Engel has proven to be a valuable ally for conservatives who want to bolster their own interests, Israel's interests chief among them.
Source: The Intercept
A REPUBLICAN SUPER PAC is funding an outside effort to help reelect Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel, locked in a tight primary against insurgent Jamaal Bowman.
The super PAC is called Americans for Tomorrow’s Future, following in the proud tradition of nonsensically named political action committees. The connections to the GOP are apparent enough that the Center for Responsive Politics lists it as “Republican/Conservative.” The PAC’s treasurer, David Satterfield, is a former aide to one-time Republican Senate Leader Bill Frist. Satterfield works now at Huckaby Davis Lisker, a prominent firm that does election compliance and accounting work for Republican campaigns. This cycle, the firm is handling the accounts for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and the campaign of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, among dozens of other GOP operations.
The PAC, presumably due to its visible Republican ties, is not spending directly in Engel’s New York primary. Instead, it funneled $100,000 to another super PAC, called Democratic Majority for Israel, on May 27. DMFI, a controversial operation inside the Democratic coalition, spent heavily against Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, with help from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, The Intercept reported in February.
Since cashing the Americans for Tomorrow’s Future check, DMFI has spent more than $600,000 boosting Engel and hitting Bowman on TV, and with digital ads, mailers, and paid phone banking. DMFI has not spent money on any other race since taking money from the GOP operation.
The congressman, who’s been in office for over three decades, is the chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee, where he has served since 1994. From that perch, he has been particularly conservative on policy toward Israel, even as the base of the Democratic Party moves leftward on the U.S.-Israel alliance. Pro-Israel groups have contributed more than $1.3 million to Engel over the course of his career. NORPAC, another pro-Israel PAC, is Engel’s second largest contributor this cycle, after the Pro-Israel America PAC, and has given his campaigns $132,509 throughout his career.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Trump's Poll Numbers Nosedive After Bible Photo Op

The pollster said , `` That is , by the process of elimination , the only reason that you go from a 12-point lead to a 16-point lead , ” when asked why there was so much difference in nearly identical polls over different days .
President Donald Trump ’ s support among Michigan voters took a sharp dive in polls taken immediately after protesters were forcefully removed so Trump could have his photo taken holding a Bible outside a historic church .
Two surveys of Michigan voters taken by Lansing polling firm EPIC-MRA found a widening gap between Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests against police brutality began outside the White House and across the country .
One poll conducted from May 30 to June 3 found Biden leading by 12 percentage points , but the second poll , which started and ended just one day later , recorded a 16-point lead for the former vice president .
EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn attributed the quick drop to public backlash and negative press resulting from Trump ’ s staged photo on June 1 .
The two polls collected responses from separate samples of 600 likely Michigan voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error .
“ That is , by the process of elimination , the only reason that you go from a 12-point lead to a 16-point lead , ” Porn said .
“ ( Trump ) went from 38 % of people saying they would definitely vote to re-elect him to only 33 % saying that they would definitely vote to re-elect him .
”

The pollster said, "That is, by the process of elimination, the only reason that you go from a 12-point lead to a 16-point lead,” when asked why there was so much difference in nearly identical polls over different days.
Source: MLive
President Donald Trump’s support among Michigan voters took a sharp dive in polls taken immediately after protesters were forcefully removed so Trump could have his photo taken holding a Bible outside a historic church.
Two surveys of Michigan voters taken by Lansing polling firm EPIC-MRA found a widening gap between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden after protests against police brutality began outside the White House and across the country. One poll conducted from May 30 to June 3 found Biden leading by 12 percentage points, but the second poll, which started and ended just one day later, recorded a 16-point lead for the former vice president.
EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn attributed the quick drop to public backlash and negative press resulting from Trump’s staged photo on June 1. The two polls collected responses from separate samples of 600 likely Michigan voters and both had a 4% margin of error.
“That is, by the process of elimination, the only reason that you go from a 12-point lead to a 16-point lead,” Porn said. “(Trump) went from 38% of people saying they would definitely vote to re-elect him to only 33% saying that they would definitely vote to re-elect him.”


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Enraged Doctors Walk Out As Montgomery City Council Kills Face Mask Ordinance

Montgomery , Alabama is probably the worst-hit area in the deep south , so the relatively benign call for a face mask ordinance and then a rejection of it left some doctors appalled at a city council meeting last night .
Several walked out in disgust .
Montgomery hospitals are at near capacity right now , with the coronavirus pandemic hitting African-Americans especially hard .
The vote was along racial lines , the black council members in support , the white council members against .
The city is about 60 % African-American .
Jackson Hospital pulmonologist William Saliski cleared his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation created by the coronavirus pandemic in Montgomery to its City Council before they voted on a mandatory mask ordinance .
`` It 's been a long day , I apologize , '' he said .
`` The units are full with critically-ill COVID patients , '' Saliski said .
About 90 % of them are Black .
He said hospitals are able to manage for now , but it 's not sustainable .
`` This mask slows that down , 95 % protection from something as easy as cloth .
...
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will be overrun . ''
More doctors followed him to the microphone , describing the dead being carried out within 30 minutes of each other , and doctors being disturbed when people on the street ask them if the media is lying about the pandemic as part of a political ploy .
After they spoke , and before the council voted on a proposal by Councilman C.C .
Calhoun to mandate mask-wearing in public in Montgomery , Councilman Brantley Lyons questioned whether masks and six-foot distancing really helps .
They do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmoved .
`` At the end of the day , if an illness or a pandemic comes through we do not throw our constitutional rights out the window , '' Lyons said .
From the crowd , doctors called for him to visit the hospital sometime .
Instead , the council killed the ordinance after it failed to pass in a 4-4 tie , mostly along racial lines , with Councilman Tracy Larkin absent .
Councilman Clay McInnis voted with three Black council members — Calhoun , Oronde Mitchell and Audrey Graham — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Charles Jinright , Richard Bollinger and Glen Pruitt voted against it .
A trio of doctors , who had waited hours to speak , got up and left the chamber in disgust .
`` Unbelievable , '' Saliski said .

Montgomery, Alabama is probably the worst-hit area in the deep south, so the relatively benign call for a face mask ordinance and then a rejection of it left some doctors appalled at a city council meeting last night. Several walked out in disgust.
Montgomery hospitals are at near capacity right now, with the coronavirus pandemic hitting African-Americans especially hard. The vote was along racial lines, the black council members in support, the white council members against. The city is about 60% African-American.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser
Jackson Hospital pulmonologist William Saliski cleared his throat as he started describing the dire situation created by the coronavirus pandemic in Montgomery to its City Council before they voted on a mandatory mask ordinance. "It's been a long day, I apologize," he said.
"The units are full with critically-ill COVID patients," Saliski said. About 90% of them are Black. He said hospitals are able to manage for now, but it's not sustainable. "This mask slows that down, 95% protection from something as easy as cloth. ... If this continues the way it's going, we will be overrun."
More doctors followed him to the microphone, describing the dead being carried out within 30 minutes of each other, and doctors being disturbed when people on the street ask them if the media is lying about the pandemic as part of a political ploy.
After they spoke, and before the council voted on a proposal by Councilman C.C. Calhoun to mandate mask-wearing in public in Montgomery, Councilman Brantley Lyons questioned whether masks and six-foot distancing really helps. They do, the doctors replied. Lyons was unmoved. "At the end of the day, if an illness or a pandemic comes through we do not throw our constitutional rights out the window," Lyons said.
From the crowd, doctors called for him to visit the hospital sometime.
Instead, the council killed the ordinance after it failed to pass in a 4-4 tie, mostly along racial lines, with Councilman Tracy Larkin absent. Councilman Clay McInnis voted with three Black council members — Calhoun, Oronde Mitchell and Audrey Graham — in favor of the ordinance. Lyons, Charles Jinright, Richard Bollinger and Glen Pruitt voted against it.
A trio of doctors, who had waited hours to speak, got up and left the chamber in disgust. "Unbelievable," Saliski said.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Republicans In Disarray:  Rudy Giuliani Attacks John Bolton

John Bolton 's new book is giving the Trump administration agita and they are suing to stop its release .
Bolton proved himself a craven moneygrubber by not testifying during Trump 's impeachment .
That said , he has information that Trump feels is damaging to his re-election .
The book might open up other new investigations into his erratic behavior .
The American people should hear about what he has to say and then decide for themselves .
Ed Henry , co-host of America 's Newsroom , brought on Rudy Giuliani to defend the Stable Genius .
Henry brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you the president may be worried about what John Bolton is going to write about Ukraine ?
” Henry asked .
Giuliani replied , “ If he said I was a hand grenade , the guy was an atomic bomb .
Come on !
From what I know of what he ’ s saying about me , he ’ s not telling the truth .
And I think I ’ m in a pretty good position to prove it.
” Trump 's not the liar , everybody else is !
Giuliani said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his career , including a `` desire for war , '' which he characterized as `` sick . ''
I concur with Rudy 's depiction of Bolton 's warmongering , but that does n't mean he 's going to lie about what he witnessed as Trump 's NSA .
And Rudy should look in the mirror .
He 's been the sickest of the sick of Trump 's surrogates -- and his insanity helped get Trump impeached by the House .
Fox News ' Ed Henry replied , `` But he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- You ’ re calling him sick .
The president picked him to be in this powerful position , and he ’ s now coming out and wants to speak .
Why can ’ t he say what he saw ?
” Trump supposedly only hires the best of the best .
If he 's `` sick '' then why was he put in a top level position on foreign policy and national defense ?
Rudy said , “ I ’ m happy to have him do it and I ’ m happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a backstabber .
The fact is he never came to me and gave me those concerns .
If he was concerned about that , if the man were a man rather than a backstabber , he would have talked to me.
” Many of Trump 's picks for his administration that have turned against him and become `` liars and backstabbers '' simply because they want to discuss the chaos in the Trump White House .
And being a backstabber does n't mean he 's lying .
Backstabber : one who betrays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not forgot about Trump 's decade long personal attorney Michael Cohen and what he disclosed about Trump .
Cohen was immediately dismissed as a `` liar '' by Trump and the entire Fox News lineup .
The ones who have betrayed this nation are Giuliani and Trump .

John Bolton's new book is giving the Trump administration agita and they are suing to stop its release.
Bolton proved himself a craven moneygrubber by not testifying during Trump's impeachment. That said, he has information that Trump feels is damaging to his re-election. The book might open up other new investigations into his erratic behavior.
The American people should hear about what he has to say and then decide for themselves.
Ed Henry, co-host of America's Newsroom, brought on Rudy Giuliani to defend the Stable Genius. Henry brought up Ukraine.
“Is it true that you the president may be worried about what John Bolton is going to write about Ukraine?” Henry asked.
Giuliani replied, “If he said I was a hand grenade, the guy was an atomic bomb. Come on! From what I know of what he’s saying about me, he’s not telling the truth. And I think I’m in a pretty good position to prove it.”
Trump's not the liar, everybody else is!
Giuliani said that Bolton has made many ridiculous statements in his career, including a "desire for war," which he characterized as "sick."
I concur with Rudy's depiction of Bolton's warmongering, but that doesn't mean he's going to lie about what he witnessed as Trump's NSA.
And Rudy should look in the mirror. He's been the sickest of the sick of Trump's surrogates -- and his insanity helped get Trump impeached by the House.
Fox News' Ed Henry replied, "But he was the president’s national security adviser-- You’re calling him sick. The president picked him to be in this powerful position, and he’s now coming out and wants to speak. Why can’t he say what he saw?”
Trump supposedly only hires the best of the best. If he's "sick" then why was he put in a top level position on foreign policy and national defense?
Rudy said, “I’m happy to have him do it and I’m happy to respond to it because he’s a backstabber. The fact is he never came to me and gave me those concerns. If he was concerned about that, if the man were a man rather than a backstabber, he would have talked to me.”
Many of Trump's picks for his administration that have turned against him and become "liars and backstabbers" simply because they want to discuss the chaos in the Trump White House.
And being a backstabber doesn't mean he's lying.
Backstabber: one who betrays a trust or an allegiance
Let's not forgot about Trump's decade long personal attorney Michael Cohen and what he disclosed about Trump. Cohen was immediately dismissed as a "liar" by Trump and the entire Fox News lineup.
The ones who have betrayed this nation are Giuliani and Trump.
Period.
(h/t Rawstory)


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Robert Gates Is Wrong. Trump Did Start A War -- Against Us.

On Sunday 's Meet the Press , former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to downplay the divisiveness that is Trump and his administration .
Many long time Republicans who oppose Trump are nevertheless afraid to rock the boat ( The Lincoln Project would be the opposite . )
and bend over to offer up a modicum of praise of Mango Mussolini .
Also , it 's hard to sell national security books without a core of Republican buyers .
Robert Gates served under Republican and Democratic administrations , and while acknowledging Trump 's unfitness made this specious claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called Trump “ unqualified and unfit to be commander-in-chief ” in 2016 .
“ Has your assessment of him changed ?
” Todd wondered .
“ I would say this , Chuck , first of all , unlike his three predecessors , and I write about this in the book , at least he hasn ’ t started any new wars , ” Gates replied .
Gates is flat-out wrong .
Trump did start a war .
Only it was a war with the American people , his own constituents .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trump Tower and declared that Mexican immigrants were rapists and murderers , Trump waged a racist war of the ugliest kind .
True , Trump hasn ’ t started dropping bombs in Iran or in Venezuela , but he has been dropping bombs on the LGBTQ community , undocumented workers , refugees , women , and all who disagree with him .
During his presidential campaign he portrayed America as a lawless country , in flames and infested by gangs like MS 13 .
And he went to war with a Gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : a family lost their son in service of this country and Donald Trump vilified the mother and father .
He targeted the free press from the outset and called them the enemy of the people .
As commander-in-chief , he immediately stripped LGBTQ rights away from military members .
He spoke of female journalists and reporters in the most vile representations imaginable .
He waged war against our NATO allies while sucking up to autocratic dictators like North Korea 's Kim Jong Un , Turkey 's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin .
Then he began waging war against the United States Constitution by secretly sending his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine to force the newly elected president to smear Joe Biden .
Then after the coronavirus struck in China , he delayed action to prepare for the pandemic .
Over 116,000 Americans are now dead in Trump 's war on science and common sense .
He continually lied about the outbreak , it ’ s infectiousness , and then promoted snake oil to the public .
After yet another policeman murdered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of embracing the moment and denouncing the police brutality behind it , instead he turned his hatred onto American protesters .
While most of the protests were peaceful , he tried to bring in active military to `` subdue '' them and called governors jerks for not responding with tremendous force against civilians .
America is certainly at war and it ’ s at war with its president .
It 's a war he started .
In spite of the CDC ’ s recommendations of social-distancing , the George Floyd lynching and Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came out to protest even at the cost of being infected .
So tell me , Mr. Gates , what , besides your book sales , are you looking at ?

On Sunday's Meet the Press, former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to downplay the divisiveness that is Trump and his administration.
Gates is selling a book.
Many long time Republicans who oppose Trump are nevertheless afraid to rock the boat ( The Lincoln Project would be the opposite.) and bend over to offer up a modicum of praise of Mango Mussolini. Also, it's hard to sell national security books without a core of Republican buyers.
Robert Gates served under Republican and Democratic administrations, and while acknowledging Trump's unfitness made this specious claim.
Host Chuck Todd reminded Gates that he called Trump “unqualified and unfit to be commander-in-chief” in 2016. “Has your assessment of him changed?” Todd wondered. “I would say this, Chuck, first of all, unlike his three predecessors, and I write about this in the book, at least he hasn’t started any new wars,” Gates replied.
Gates is flat-out wrong. Trump did start a war. Only it was a war with the American people, his own constituents.
From the moment he came down the escalator in Trump Tower and declared that Mexican immigrants were rapists and murderers, Trump waged a racist war of the ugliest kind.
True, Trump hasn’t started dropping bombs in Iran or in Venezuela, but he has been dropping bombs on the LGBTQ community, undocumented workers, refugees, women, and all who disagree with him.
During his presidential campaign he portrayed America as a lawless country, in flames and infested by gangs like MS 13.
And he went to war with a Gold Star family during the Republican National Convention: a family lost their son in service of this country and Donald Trump vilified the mother and father.
He targeted the free press from the outset and called them the enemy of the people.
As commander-in-chief, he immediately stripped LGBTQ rights away from military members.
He spoke of female journalists and reporters in the most vile representations imaginable.
He waged war against our NATO allies while sucking up to autocratic dictators like North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and of course his favorite, Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Then he began waging war against the United States Constitution by secretly sending his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine to force the newly elected president to smear Joe Biden.
Then after the coronavirus struck in China, he delayed action to prepare for the pandemic. Over 116,000 Americans are now dead in Trump's war on science and common sense.
Drink bleach, shine a light up your butt.
He continually lied about the outbreak, it’s infectiousness, and then promoted snake oil to the public.
After yet another policeman murdered a black man named George Floyd, instead of embracing the moment and denouncing the police brutality behind it, instead he turned his hatred onto American protesters.
While most of the protests were peaceful, he tried to bring in active military to "subdue" them and called governors jerks for not responding with tremendous force against civilians.
America is certainly at war and it’s at war with its president. It's a war he started.
In spite of the CDC’s recommendations of social-distancing, the George Floyd lynching and Trump's response ignited a fury. Americans came out to protest even at the cost of being infected.
So tell me, Mr. Gates, what, besides your book sales, are you looking at?


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--Buh Bye, Aunt Jemima:  Quaker Discontinues Racist Branding

The times are changing .
Quaker Oats is discontinuing the Aunt Jemima brand .
Wapo reports : In its press @ @ @ @ @ that packaging without the image of Aunt Jemima would begin to appear in the fourth @ @ @ @ @ that after that , the company would rebrand .
“ We are starting by removing @ @ @ @ @ name , ” Kroepfl said in the release .
“ We will continue the conversation @ @ @ @ @ both our organization and the Black community to further evolve the brand and make it @ @ @ @ @ to have in their pantry.
” The Aunt Jemima brand , which is owned by @ @ @ @ @ at least $ 5 million over the next five years “ to create meaningful , @ @ @ @ @ the Black community , ” the press release said .

The times are changing. Quaker Oats is discontinuing the Aunt Jemima brand. Wapo reports:
In its press release, the company said that packaging without the image of Aunt Jemima would begin to appear in the fourth quarter of the year and that after that, the company would rebrand.
“We are starting by removing the image and changing the name,” Kroepfl said in the release. “We will continue the conversation by gathering diverse perspectives from both our organization and the Black community to further evolve the brand and make it one everyone can be proud to have in their pantry.”
The Aunt Jemima brand, which is owned by PepsiCo, pledged to donate at least $5 million over the next five years “to create meaningful, ongoing support and engagement in the Black community,” the press release said.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--The Lincoln Project's New Ad: #TrumpIsNotWell

Another ad from The Lincoln Project designed to enrage Trump , and it will .
A Republican group that opposes @ @ @ @ @ is going up with a new ad that spotlights the president slowly walking down a @ @ @ @ @ at the U.S. Military Academy ’ s commencement ceremony at West Point .
“ Something @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s shaky .
Weak .
Trouble speaking .
Trouble walking , ” @ @ @ @ @ spot by The Lincoln Project while video of the president from Saturday plays .
The @ @ @ @ @ the ramp -- as West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams walked alongside him @ @ @ @ @ tons of media coverage questioning the health of the president , who turned 74 on @ @ @ @ @ appears to be a small ad buy , The Lincoln Project told Fox News that @ @ @ @ @ the D.C. television market later this week .

Another ad from The Lincoln Project designed to enrage Trump, and it will.
Source: Fox News
A Republican group that opposes President Trump’s reelection is going up with a new ad that spotlights the president slowly walking down a ramp Saturday during his appearance at the U.S. Military Academy’s commencement ceremony at West Point.
“Something's wrong with Donald Trump. He’s shaky. Weak. Trouble speaking. Trouble walking,” the narrator says in the spot by The Lincoln Project while video of the president from Saturday plays.
The clip of Trump carefully descending the ramp -- as West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams walked alongside him -- went viral and spurred tons of media coverage questioning the health of the president, who turned 74 on Sunday.
...
In what appears to be a small ad buy, The Lincoln Project told Fox News that the spot will run in the D.C. television market later this week.


crooksandliars--2020-06-17--GOP Reps: You Can't Make Me Wear A Mask! Nancy Pelosi: Hold My Beer

Some of the usual whack jobs in the Republican caucus have refused to wear face coverings in Congress .
Now , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brings down the hammer .
Via the Washington Post : Late Tuesday , she asked committee chairs to require masks at all hearings — and authorized the sergeant at arms to bar anyone who refuses to cover their face , according to a senior aide familiar with the request .
“ This requirement will be enforced by the Sergeant at Arms and non-compliant Members will be denied entry , ” the senior aide said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ultimately , Chairs will have the option of not recognizing Members in committee proceedings that fail to comply with the mask requirement.
” Pelosi made the decision after getting new guidelines from the attending physician of Congress , based on the consensus that masks are key to slowing the spread of coronavirus .
His updated guidance now requires face masks in the House for anyone meeting “ in a limited enclosed space , such as a committee hearing room , for greater than 15 minutes.
” Look for Republican attention seekers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Some of the usual whack jobs in the Republican caucus have refused to wear face coverings in Congress. Now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brings down the hammer. Via the Washington Post:
Late Tuesday, she asked committee chairs to require masks at all hearings — and authorized the sergeant at arms to bar anyone who refuses to cover their face, according to a senior aide familiar with the request. “This requirement will be enforced by the Sergeant at Arms and non-compliant Members will be denied entry,” the senior aide said in an email to The Washington Post. “Ultimately, Chairs will have the option of not recognizing Members in committee proceedings that fail to comply with the mask requirement.”
Pelosi made the decision after getting new guidelines from the attending physician of Congress, based on the consensus that masks are key to slowing the spread of coronavirus. His updated guidance now requires face masks in the House for anyone meeting “in a limited enclosed space, such as a committee hearing room, for greater than 15 minutes.”
Look for Republican attention seekers to use this for even more posturing:


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--MSNBC Legal Analyst Mercilessly Mocks Trump Administration's Incompetence At Supreme Court

MSNBC legal analyst Neal Katyal had himself a good ole time dunking on the astonishing ineptitude of the Trump administration 's DACA loss at the Supreme Court .
Katyal knows of which he speaks , being a member of the Supreme Court bar and having argued more cases there than any other minority in history .
Basically , he said it 's extremely hard to lose a case if you 're arguing in favor of the executive branch , because the Supreme Court by default starts with a position of deference and respect .
Not here , though , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision is a blowout in the water for the Trump administration , and if you have , like me , defended the , had the privilege of defending the government before our nation 's highest court , you know , look , if you 're defending presidential action , it 's really hard to lose at the Supreme Court .
There 's so much deference .
You really got to try .
It 's kinda like failing a class at Yale .
You got to work at it .
And here they managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with DACA , but last year with the census , and so what this is , is an incompetent administration .
Any competent administration could have actually ended DACA if they 'd wanted to .
Any competent administration probably could have added the citizenship question to the census , given the deference that the Supreme Court gives .
And so , to run on this in the campaign , on this idea that , oh , the Trump administration is going to be tough on immigration , only in a kind of botched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision today is about .
It 's like , you could n't even do it , and you did it illegally , and therefore we 're striking it down and I do n't think that gives anyone including the hardliners in this country on immigration , any sort of comfort about this administration .
Incompetent through and through .
AYMAN MOHYELDIN ( ANCHOR ) : I want to pick up on that point for a moment .
Does this case in itself , Neal , aside from this specific issue of DACA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overreach ?
That was at the core I understand from the attorneys generals who brought this forward -- they were arguing that this represented a bit of a presidential overreach .
KATYAL : Exactly .
The Trump administration oddly came in and said this is a violation of executive power , what President Obama did , which is the first time the Trump administration has ever thought anything was a violation of executive power .
Normally they go into court and say the president can do anything he wants .
KATYAL : So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and what the Supreme Court today said was no , you did n't even explain how this is an abuse of presidential power .
All this is is deferring enforcement , which is a quintessential thing presidents can do .
Now look , they said maybe you can do this , but you have to have a good reason and actually explain yourself , and Trump administration , you did n't even bother to do that .
Incompetent .

MSNBC legal analyst Neal Katyal had himself a good ole time dunking on the astonishing ineptitude of the Trump administration's DACA loss at the Supreme Court. Katyal knows of which he speaks, being a member of the Supreme Court bar and having argued more cases there than any other minority in history. Basically, he said it's extremely hard to lose a case if you're arguing in favor of the executive branch, because the Supreme Court by default starts with a position of deference and respect. Not here, though, and not today.
NEAL KATYAL: This decision is a blowout in the water for the Trump administration, and if you have, like me, defended the, had the privilege of defending the government before our nation's highest court, you know, look, if you're defending presidential action, it's really hard to lose at the Supreme Court. There's so much deference. You really got to try. It's kinda like failing a class at Yale. You got to work at it. And here they managed to do it not just this time with DACA, but last year with the census, and so what this is, is an incompetent administration. Any competent administration could have actually ended DACA if they'd wanted to. Any competent administration probably could have added the citizenship question to the census, given the deference that the Supreme Court gives. And so, to run on this in the campaign, on this idea that, oh, the Trump administration is going to be tough on immigration, only in a kind of botched way, and that's what the decision today is about. It's like, you couldn't even do it, and you did it illegally, and therefore we're striking it down and I don't think that gives anyone including the hardliners in this country on immigration, any sort of comfort about this administration. Incompetent through and through.
AYMAN MOHYELDIN (ANCHOR): I want to pick up on that point for a moment. Does this case in itself, Neal, aside from this specific issue of DACA, does it address any issue about presidential overreach? That was at the core I understand from the attorneys generals who brought this forward -- they were arguing that this represented a bit of a presidential overreach.
KATYAL: Exactly. The Trump administration oddly came in and said this is a violation of executive power, what President Obama did, which is the first time the Trump administration has ever thought anything was a violation of executive power. Normally they go into court and say the president can do anything he wants.
MOHYELDIN: Right.
KATYAL: So it's always been a bit bogus, and what the Supreme Court today said was no, you didn't even explain how this is an abuse of presidential power. All this is is deferring enforcement, which is a quintessential thing presidents can do. Now look, they said maybe you can do this, but you have to have a good reason and actually explain yourself, and Trump administration, you didn't even bother to do that. Incompetent.


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Senator Chuck Schumer Sheds Happy Tears Over DACA Decision

Sen. Chuck Schumer was on the floor of the Senate when he got the news that the Supreme Court handed Trump another loss , this time on his administration 's attempt to nullify DACA ( Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals ) .
He stopped what he was doing to announce the news , and was so choked up , he was moved to tears .
SEN. SCHUMER : We believe in it .
It 's part of our soul .
Every one of us cares about immigrants and so many of us are descendants of immigrants .
Wow , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
In these very difficult times , the Supreme Court provided a bright ray of sunshine this week with the decision on Monday , preventing discrimination and employment against the LGBTQ community , and now this DACA decision .
To me , frankly , the court 's decisions were surprising , but welcome .
And it gives you some faith that the laws and rules and mores of this country can be upheld .
Wow , this decision 's amazing .
I am so happy .
These kids and families , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of America does .
He needed tissues , to clear his throat and a few breaths before he could move on .
We know how he feels .
And just for fun , he joined the celebration outside the Supreme Court later in the day , to celebrate the DACA families ' win over what he called `` dark forces . ''
Addendum : Fun fact .
I lived in Schumer 's district when he was an Assemblyman , then a Congressman .
His mother was a substitute teacher , and she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bunch of times .
Oy , how she used to brag about him .
`` My son , you know , he 's an Assemblyman . ''
`` My son , you know , the Congressman ... '' We used to roll our eyes so hard .
Had we known then what we know now the ranks to which he 'd rise .
— meh , we still would 've acted like elementary school kids .

Sen. Chuck Schumer was on the floor of the Senate when he got the news that the Supreme Court handed Trump another loss, this time on his administration's attempt to nullify DACA (Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals). He stopped what he was doing to announce the news, and was so choked up, he was moved to tears.
SEN. SCHUMER: We believe in it. It's part of our soul. Every one of us cares about immigrants and so many of us are descendants of immigrants. Wow, what a decision, and let me say this. In these very difficult times, the Supreme Court provided a bright ray of sunshine this week with the decision on Monday, preventing discrimination and employment against the LGBTQ community, and now this DACA decision. To me, frankly, the court's decisions were surprising, but welcome. And it gives you some faith that the laws and rules and mores of this country can be upheld. Wow, this decision's amazing. I am so happy. These kids and families, I feel for them, and I think all of America does.
He needed tissues, to clear his throat and a few breaths before he could move on. We know how he feels.
And just for fun, he joined the celebration outside the Supreme Court later in the day, to celebrate the DACA families' win over what he called "dark forces."
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated outside the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. with others, following the court's decision to block President Trump's bid to end the ‘Dreamers’ program https://t.co/EpxEAc8e1O pic.twitter.com/30gVh83QFs — Reuters (@Reuters) June 18, 2020
Addendum: Fun fact. I lived in Schumer's district when he was an Assemblyman, then a Congressman. His mother was a substitute teacher, and she subbed in my classroom in elementary school a bunch of times. Oy, how she used to brag about him. "My son, you know, he's an Assemblyman." "My son, you know, the Congressman..." We used to roll our eyes so hard. Had we known then what we know now the ranks to which he'd rise. — meh, we still would've acted like elementary school kids.


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Arizona Sheriff Who Refused To Enforce Lockdown Now Has COVID-19

Some irony that a sheriff who wo n't enforce the law ends up being the victim of his own stupidity .
And any cop who says he follows the Constitution rather than laws `` two days old '' should n't be in law enforcement .
Period .
A Republican sheriff in Arizona who said he would not enforce the state 's emergency coronavirus orders has come down with COVID-19 .
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced on Facebook on Wednesday that he had tested positive , likely from attending a campaign event on Saturday .
He says he found out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet with President Trump at the White House and was screened for the virus .
`` Unfortunately , as a law enforcement official and elected leader , we do not have the luxury of staying home , '' Lamb wrote .
`` This line of work is inherently dangerous , and that is a risk we take when we sign up for the job .
Today , that risk is the COVID-19 virus .
On Saturday , I held a campaign event , where it is likely I came into contact with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is planning to come to Arizona on June 23 for a campaign rally .
Lamb , who was elected in 2016 , told Phoenix New Times in late April that he had to keep the Constitution in mind when considering emergency public-health orders .
`` In tough times , tough decisions have to be made , '' he said .
`` I 'm looking at two laws in each hand [ and ] going with the one that 's 200 years old rather than two days old . ''

Some irony that a sheriff who won't enforce the law ends up being the victim of his own stupidity. And any cop who says he follows the Constitution rather than laws "two days old" shouldn't be in law enforcement. Period.
Source: Phoenix New Times
A Republican sheriff in Arizona who said he would not enforce the state's emergency coronavirus orders has come down with COVID-19.
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced on Facebook on Wednesday that he had tested positive, likely from attending a campaign event on Saturday. He says he found out when he was called on Tuesday to meet with President Trump at the White House and was screened for the virus.
"Unfortunately, as a law enforcement official and elected leader, we do not have the luxury of staying home," Lamb wrote. "This line of work is inherently dangerous, and that is a risk we take when we sign up for the job. Today, that risk is the COVID-19 virus. On Saturday, I held a campaign event, where it is likely I came into contact with an infected individual."
Trump, meanwhile, is planning to come to Arizona on June 23 for a campaign rally.
Lamb, who was elected in 2016, told Phoenix New Times in late April that he had to keep the Constitution in mind when considering emergency public-health orders.
"In tough times, tough decisions have to be made," he said. "I'm looking at two laws in each hand [and] going with the one that's 200 years old rather than two days old."


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Trump Campaign Using Symbols Associated With The Nazis To Smear Antifascists

In some ways shocking , and in others not surprising at all .
In two Facebook posts , Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign tied the loose network of anti-fascist activists known as “ Antifa ” — which he suggests naming a terrorist organization — to an upside-down red triangle , a symbol strikingly similar to one used by Nazis in concentration camps to identify political prisoners , communists and people who protected Jews .
“ Dangerous MOBS of far-left groups are running through our streets and causing absolute mayhem , ” the post reads , citing no evidence for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name IMMEDIATELY to stand with your President and his decision to declare ANTIFA a Terrorist Organization.
” The triangle symbol does not appear to be widely used by people or groups aligned with Antifa , which is more commonly identified by a red and black flag logo .
Some people aligned with Antifa , however , will carry a flag used by anarchist movements , which is solid red and black , bisected on the diagonal , creating one red and one black triangle .
One Antifa Facebook page , based in Utrecht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red triangle in its logo .
Beginning in 1939 , Nazi-run concentration camps used a system of different colored triangles , sewn into their prison clothes , to mark prisoners , according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia .
Political prisoners wore red , gypsies and “ vagrants ” wore black , queer people were given pink triangles and Jehovah ’ s Witnesses brown .
Jews wore the infamous yellow star , unless they were part of another group — in the case of a Jewish communist , for example , the upside-down red triangle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up triangle .
Occupy Democrats noted the Trump campaign are running 88 such ads .
The Trump team used the official Facebook pages of Donald Trump , Mike Pence , and the “ Trump Team ” to run 88 ads asking users to sign a petition demanding that “ antifa ” be declared a terrorist group alongside an inverted red triangle .
Historians and Jewish groups quickly pointed out that this symbol was used by the Nazis to identify political enemies such as communists and Freemasons in the concentration camps .
The choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; white supremacists use the number 88 as a numerical code to represent “ Heil Hitler , ” often in conjunction with “ 14 , ” which represents the white supremacist slogan “ the Fourteen Words.
” Nazi expert Jacob S. Eder told The Washington Post that the Trump team ’ s ads are “ a highly problematic use of a symbol that the Nazis used to identify their political enemies .
… It ’ s hard to imagine it ’ s done on purpose , because I ’ m not sure if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the sign , but it ’ s very , very careless to say the least.
” All of which , if you did n't see it , sounds like some crackpot conspiracy theory .
Except it 's really happening .
And we 're just standing around watching it .
The Washington Post captured three such images .
The Trump campaign have replied to hundreds on Twitter now , asking what the hell they 're doing posting Nazi symbols .
This is their standard response .
So it was intentional , as something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images seems to be no help at all in finding this `` widely used '' symbol , of course .
UPDATE : Facebook has now taken down the ads as violating their terms of service , breaching their policies on hate .
New York ( CNN Business ) Facebook ( FB ) on Thursday said it had take action against ads run by President Trump 's re-election campaign for breaching its policies on hate .
The ads , which attacked what the Trump campaign described as `` Dangerous MOBS of far-left groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anti-Defamation League said Thursday the triangle `` is practically identical to that used by the Nazi regime to classify political prisoners in concentration camps . ''
`` We removed these posts and ads for violating our policy against organized hate .
Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group 's symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol , '' Andy Stone , a Facebook spokesperson , told CNN Business .

In some ways shocking, and in others not surprising at all.
Source: Forward
In two Facebook posts, Donald Trump’s reelection campaign tied the loose network of anti-fascist activists known as “Antifa” — which he suggests naming a terrorist organization — to an upside-down red triangle, a symbol strikingly similar to one used by Nazis in concentration camps to identify political prisoners, communists and people who protected Jews. “Dangerous MOBS of far-left groups are running through our streets and causing absolute mayhem,” the post reads, citing no evidence for the claim. “Please add your name IMMEDIATELY to stand with your President and his decision to declare ANTIFA a Terrorist Organization.” The triangle symbol does not appear to be widely used by people or groups aligned with Antifa, which is more commonly identified by a red and black flag logo. Some people aligned with Antifa, however, will carry a flag used by anarchist movements, which is solid red and black, bisected on the diagonal, creating one red and one black triangle. One Antifa Facebook page, based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, has a red triangle in its logo. Beginning in 1939, Nazi-run concentration camps used a system of different colored triangles, sewn into their prison clothes, to mark prisoners, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia. Political prisoners wore red, gypsies and “vagrants” wore black, queer people were given pink triangles and Jehovah’s Witnesses brown. Jews wore the infamous yellow star, unless they were part of another group — in the case of a Jewish communist, for example, the upside-down red triangle would be sewn over a yellow right-side up triangle.
Occupy Democrats noted the Trump campaign are running 88 such ads.
The Trump team used the official Facebook pages of Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and the “Trump Team” to run 88 ads asking users to sign a petition demanding that “antifa” be declared a terrorist group alongside an inverted red triangle. Historians and Jewish groups quickly pointed out that this symbol was used by the Nazis to identify political enemies such as communists and Freemasons in the concentration camps. The choice to run eighty-eight ads is clearly deliberate; white supremacists use the number 88 as a numerical code to represent “Heil Hitler,” often in conjunction with “14,” which represents the white supremacist slogan “the Fourteen Words.” Nazi expert Jacob S. Eder told The Washington Post that the Trump team’s ads are “a highly problematic use of a symbol that the Nazis used to identify their political enemies. … It’s hard to imagine it’s done on purpose, because I’m not sure if the vast majority of Americans know or understand the sign, but it’s very, very careless to say the least.”
All of which, if you didn't see it, sounds like some crackpot conspiracy theory. Except it's really happening. And we're just standing around watching it.
The President of the United States is campaigning for reelection using a Nazi concentration camp symbol.
Nazis used the red triangle to mark political prisoners and people who rescued Jews.
Trump & the RNC are using it to smear millions of protestors.
Their masks are off. pic.twitter.com/UzmzDaRBup — Bend the Arc: Jewish Action (@jewishaction) June 18, 2020
The Washington Post captured three such images.
The Trump campaign have replied to hundreds on Twitter now, asking what the hell they're doing posting Nazi symbols. This is their standard response.
This is an emoji. 🔻
It's also a symbol widely used by Antifa. It was used in an ad about Antifa.
It is not in the ADL's Hate Symbols Database. pic.twitter.com/hoTnEuXuVq — Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 & get the APP (@TrumpWarRoom) June 18, 2020
So it was intentional, as something they found on the Internet. Google images seems to be no help at all in finding this "widely used" symbol, of course.
UPDATE: Facebook has now taken down the ads as violating their terms of service, breaching their policies on hate.


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Even When Challenged, Matt Gaetz Cannot Say 'Black Lives Matter'

Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-CA ) on Wednesday challenged his Republican colleagues to verbally express concern for black lives — and some of them did .
At a House Judiciary hearing on police reform , Swalwell explained why he supports the Black Lives Matter movement .
“ Black lives matter .
Period , ” Swalwell said .
“ And so I would yield to any of my colleagues on the Republican side who can unequivocally say as we calibrate where we are right now that black lives matter.
” “ Does the gentleman believe that all lives matter ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think black lives matter , I think all lives matter.
” “ Reclaiming my time , ” Swalwell interrupted .
“ Can anyone on the Republican side say unequivocally black lives matter ?
” “ Unequivocally , all lives matter , ” Gaetz repeated as Swalwell grimaced .
“ Why is that a problem to acknowledge ?
” “ My colleagues on the other side would like to put up a straw man not to have to a conversation that we need to have about race , ” Swalwell remarked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder conversation about systemic issues in policing and instead we get this straw man.
” At that point , Rep. Louie Gohmert ( R-TX ) chimed in .
“ Black lives do matter , ” the Texas Republican agreed .
“ Unequivocally , black lives matter .
Every life is precious , God given and black lives matter .
Unequivocally.
” Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) used his time to rail against the investigation into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 U.S. election .
He then yielded to Gaetz to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theatrics of serving us up the question on a political theme seem to be a bit misplaced , ” he complained .
“ It would be as if I were willing to yield to any Democrat willing to say that blue lives matter .
Right ?
Not super productive.
” “ So , I think that if we acknowledge all lives matter , ” he continued , “ that there are definitely problems in our society that we have to solve .
”

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on Wednesday challenged his Republican colleagues to verbally express concern for black lives — and some of them did.
At a House Judiciary hearing on police reform, Swalwell explained why he supports the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Black lives matter. Period,” Swalwell said. “And so I would yield to any of my colleagues on the Republican side who can unequivocally say as we calibrate where we are right now that black lives matter.”
“Does the gentleman believe that all lives matter?” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) objected. “I think black lives matter, I think all lives matter.”
“Reclaiming my time,” Swalwell interrupted. “Can anyone on the Republican side say unequivocally black lives matter?”
“Unequivocally, all lives matter,” Gaetz repeated as Swalwell grimaced. “Why is that a problem to acknowledge?”
“My colleagues on the other side would like to put up a straw man not to have to a conversation that we need to have about race,” Swalwell remarked. “We have to have the harder conversation about systemic issues in policing and instead we get this straw man.”
At that point, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) chimed in.
“Black lives do matter,” the Texas Republican agreed. “Unequivocally, black lives matter. Every life is precious, God given and black lives matter. Unequivocally.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) used his time to rail against the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election. He then yielded to Gaetz to address Swalwell’s challenge.
“The theatrics of serving us up the question on a political theme seem to be a bit misplaced,” he complained. “It would be as if I were willing to yield to any Democrat willing to say that blue lives matter. Right? Not super productive.”
“So, I think that if we acknowledge all lives matter,” he continued, “that there are definitely problems in our society that we have to solve.”


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Stable Genius Tweet-Screams:  SCOTUS Is Coming For Your Guns!

The Supreme Court shot down Trump 's attempt to destroy President Obama 's DACA program .
As usual , Trump @ @ @ @ @ out his grievances with the right-wing leaning Supreme Court .
Of course , it was @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories and violence about the Second Amendment .
Trump 's use of the phrase @ @ @ @ @ face '' against his despicable attempt to kick out DACA recipients ( while police officers @ @ @ @ @ is as vile as it gets .
I have no idea `` what everything else @ @ @ @ @ , do you ?
Did you know the Supreme Court is now part of the @ @ @ @ @ Even to the Chief Justice of the United States , Trump 's actions are illegal @ @ @ @ @ you something .

The Supreme Court shot down Trump's attempt to destroy President Obama's DACA program.
As usual, Trump went to Twitter to air out his grievances with the right-wing leaning Supreme Court.
Of course, it was laced with Alex Jones styled conspiracy theories and violence about the Second Amendment.
These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives. We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd. Amendment & everything else. Vote Trump 2020! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2020
Trump's use of the phrase "shotgun blasts into the face" against his despicable attempt to kick out DACA recipients (while police officers are murdering Black Americans) is as vile as it gets.
I have no idea "what everything else" is supposed to mean, do you?
Did you know the Supreme Court is now part of the deep state against Trump?
Do you get the impression that the Supreme Court doesn’t like me? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2020
Even to the Chief Justice of the United States, Trump's actions are illegal. Now that should tell you something.


crooksandliars--2020-06-18--Jim Jordan Hijacks Policing Act Hearing To Defend Michael Flynn

During Wednesday 's House Judiciary Committee meeting on the Justice and Policing Act , Jim Jordan , the ranking Republican @ @ @ @ @ not to discuss police reforms , but attack the case against Michael Flynn .
Jordan @ @ @ @ @ providing clips to Fox News than actually pursuing truth or helping his constituents .
As @ @ @ @ @ And the first three hours of Wednesday ’ s markup were spent on two Republican @ @ @ @ @ by Republicans ’ problems with the FBI ’ s investigation into Flynn , President Donald @ @ @ @ @ security adviser ... '' And of course , they went after Antifa .
Black people @ @ @ @ @ enforcement .
The entire country is in an uproar over it .
And the only @ @ @ @ @ Jordan is conspiracy theories about the FBI 's `` war on '' Michael Flynn .
@ @ @ @ @ and worthless talking points on how the FBI somehow duped a former Lt. General into @ @ @ @ @ .

During Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee meeting on the Justice and Policing Act, Jim Jordan, the ranking Republican member, used his time not to discuss police reforms, but attack the case against Michael Flynn.
Jordan is always more interested in providing clips to Fox News than actually pursuing truth or helping his constituents.
As Roll Call notes, "And the first three hours of Wednesday’s markup were spent on two Republican amendments. One was sparked by Republicans’ problems with the FBI’s investigation into Flynn, President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser ..."
And of course, they went after Antifa.
Black people have been murdered by law enforcement.
The entire country is in an uproar over it.
And the only thing that truly rankles Jim Jordan is conspiracy theories about the FBI's "war on" Michael Flynn.
Jordan rehashed his same tired and worthless talking points on how the FBI somehow duped a former Lt. General into pleading guilty to felony charges.
Another soundbite for Fox News Primetime.
Once a cretin, always a cretin.