palmerreport--2020-01-20--Hey Alan Dershowitz, defend this!

Hey Alan Dershowitz, defend this!

It ’ s said that when you first meet Alan Dershowitz it will take him all of five minutes to mention he ’ s a professor ( now emeritus ) at Harvard .
You would think someone who is bright enough to teach there ( he ’ s also a Yale Law School graduate ) would recall that America is a nation that ’ s getting a little weary of braggadocio , particularly in older white men .
But no matter .
If that was the worst one could say about America ’ s most famous Constitutional appellate lawyer one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a harmless foible .
Yes , I can forget and even forgive the odd academic conceit .
What I can ’ t forgive is his horrific record of defending the perfectly awful .
Indeed , it ’ s not my place to forgive him , it ’ s the place of the victims of his clients .
And since many of them are dead , it ’ s not a forgiveness that will be forthcoming any time soon .
Here ’ s a list of the horribles defended by Alan Dershowitz : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvey Weinstein , Jeffrey Epstein , and now Donald Trump .
Are you starting to see a pattern ?
Let me help you out : two wife murderers , a rapist , a child sex trafficker and a rapist , and a malicious misogynyist , sexual assailant and a rapist .
Maybe Dersh keeps mentioning Harvard because he ’ s trying to distract from the real problem here , that he ’ s a raging woman hater .
But let ’ s not forget , Dersh is also a Constitutional Lawyer — from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s passionate about Constitutional violations .
So hold your nose for a moment and let ’ s take a look at that .
Dershowitz believes he has an answer to why abuse of power is not an impeachable offense .
It is argued that it is , because Alexander Hamilton defines abuse of power in Federalist 65 as , “ the abuse or violation of some public trust .
They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL , as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , “ The prosecution of them , for this reason , will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community , and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused .
In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions , and will enlist all their animosities , partialities , influence , and interest on one side or on the other ; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.
” This seems to argue in Dershowitz ’ favor , that is , Hamilton appears to be leading the reader to the conclusion that because such instances of the violation of public trust ( in the form of abuse of power ) are so inherently POLITICAL in nature , it is necessarily impossible to prosecute judiciously , and should be left out of impeachment proceedings because it will lead to abuse of process by factions that will inevitably form on that account .
But wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the old Veg-a-matic commercials , there ’ s more !
Hamilton goes on to say that “ The convention , it appears , thought the Senate the most fit depositary of this important trust .
Those who can best discern the intrinsic difficulty of the thing , will be least hasty in condemning that opinion , and will be most inclined to allow due weight to the arguments which may be supposed to have produced it.
” In other words , Hamilton is saying that , yes , it can get political , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inimical to the public trust that it simply must be dealt with .
Who better than the Senate to take it on ?
Of course , Hamilton was no fool , and he understood that the Senate would also be divisive .
But he felt that august body was nonetheless the best in the world to deal with the question , and it was the lesser of two evils to tackle it somewhere rather than tackle it not at all .
The coming trial in the Senate of Donald Trump is a case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a miracle , Trump almost certainly will be acquitted .
But at the very least his crimes will be laid out for all to see , and in so doing the hypocrisy of the Republicans in the Senate will be exposed .
Thus , Hamilton was right .
Even with a bad result we will be getting a good eventual outcome , because bad Senators will be exposed to the scrutiny of history , and their evil will serve as a cautionary tale to men and women in the future who chose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a hotshot professor emeritus at Hah-vud , but I think he ’ s missed the boat here , and I think he knows it .
He just thinks we ’ ll read as far as our little brains will let us in Federalist 65 and stop .
He ’ s hoping we will , anyway .
But he ’ s wrong .
And in case you didn ’ t know , Dershowitz has written a book , a jeremiad against the # MeToo movement called “ Guilt by Association.
” So just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a loathsome woman hater .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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It’s said that when you first meet Alan Dershowitz it will take him all of five minutes to mention he’s a professor (now emeritus) at Harvard. You would think someone who is bright enough to teach there (he’s also a Yale Law School graduate) would recall that America is a nation that’s getting a little weary of braggadocio, particularly in older white men. But no matter. If that was the worst one could say about America’s most famous Constitutional appellate lawyer one could probably write the whole thing off as a harmless foible.
Yes, I can forget and even forgive the odd academic conceit. What I can’t forgive is his horrific record of defending the perfectly awful. Indeed, it’s not my place to forgive him, it’s the place of the victims of his clients. And since many of them are dead, it’s not a forgiveness that will be forthcoming any time soon.
Here’s a list of the horribles defended by Alan Dershowitz: Claus von Bulow, OJ Simpson, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and now Donald Trump. Are you starting to see a pattern? Let me help you out: two wife murderers, a rapist, a child sex trafficker and a rapist, and a malicious misogynyist, sexual assailant and a rapist. Maybe Dersh keeps mentioning Harvard because he’s trying to distract from the real problem here, that he’s a raging woman hater.
But let’s not forget, Dersh is also a Constitutional Lawyer — from Harvard no less — and he’s passionate about Constitutional violations. So hold your nose for a moment and let’s take a look at that.
Dershowitz believes he has an answer to why abuse of power is not an impeachable offense. It is argued that it is, because Alexander Hamilton defines abuse of power in Federalist 65 as, “the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.” But Hamilton goes on to say, “The prosecution of them, for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.”
This seems to argue in Dershowitz’ favor, that is, Hamilton appears to be leading the reader to the conclusion that because such instances of the violation of public trust (in the form of abuse of power) are so inherently POLITICAL in nature, it is necessarily impossible to prosecute judiciously, and should be left out of impeachment proceedings because it will lead to abuse of process by factions that will inevitably form on that account.
But wait, as they used to say in the old Veg-a-matic commercials, there’s more! Hamilton goes on to say that “The convention, it appears, thought the Senate the most fit depositary of this important trust. Those who can best discern the intrinsic difficulty of the thing, will be least hasty in condemning that opinion, and will be most inclined to allow due weight to the arguments which may be supposed to have produced it.” In other words, Hamilton is saying that, yes, it can get political, but abuse of power is nevertheless so inimical to the public trust that it simply must be dealt with. Who better than the Senate to take it on? Of course, Hamilton was no fool, and he understood that the Senate would also be divisive. But he felt that august body was nonetheless the best in the world to deal with the question, and it was the lesser of two evils to tackle it somewhere rather than tackle it not at all.
The coming trial in the Senate of Donald Trump is a case in point. Of course, barring a miracle, Trump almost certainly will be acquitted. But at the very least his crimes will be laid out for all to see, and in so doing the hypocrisy of the Republicans in the Senate will be exposed. Thus, Hamilton was right. Even with a bad result we will be getting a good eventual outcome, because bad Senators will be exposed to the scrutiny of history, and their evil will serve as a cautionary tale to men and women in the future who chose to follow their nefarious course.
Dersh may be a hotshot professor emeritus at Hah-vud, but I think he’s missed the boat here, and I think he knows it. He just thinks we’ll read as far as our little brains will let us in Federalist 65 and stop. He’s hoping we will, anyway. But he’s wrong. And in case you didn’t know, Dershowitz has written a book, a jeremiad against the #MeToo movement called “Guilt by Association.” So just as a final reminder, Dersh is also a loathsome woman hater.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-20--Something still doesn’t add up about Donald Trump and Lev Parnas

When the Feds first arrested Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , my gut told me that the Trump regime was behind the arrests , as a way of trying to insulate Donald Trump in the Ukraine scandal by scapegoating Rudy Giuliani and his henchmen .
But I like my gut feelings to be supported by evidence , and when no evidence emerged to support to notion that Trump was behind the arrests , I set that notion aside .
However , this past week has seen a huge shift in the Trump-Parnas narrative .
Lev Parnas went on cable news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested , Donald Trump initially sent his own lawyers to represent Lev .
Then at some point Lev concluded that these lawyers were trying to keep him quiet by making sure he didn ’ t get out on bail , and he fired them .
Then over the weekend Lev ’ s current attorney tweeted an email in which Trump ’ s lawyers discussed what to do about Lev and Igor in relation to the impeachment process .
This email was dated the day before Lev and Igor were arrested .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Feds at the SDNY notified Attorney General Bill Barr about the arrest of Lev and Igor shortly before it happened .
Now there ’ s evidence suggesting that the day before they were arrested , Trump ’ s lawyers expected to imminently have Lev and Igor under its thumb .
Then after the arrest happened , Trump sent those same lawyers to apparently try to make sure Lev and Igor remained silent .
This all takes me back to the original question I posed on the day of the arrests : were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrests of Lev and Igor , as a way of trying to scapegoat Lev and Igor and Rudy Giuliani ?
If this was part of some scheme , it ’ s turned out to be a dumb one , as Rudy managed to fend off Trump by publicly bragging about having “ insurance ” against him , Trump still got impeached , and now Lev is giving evidence and interviews to anyone who will listen .
So did Trump and Barr simply make a stupid gamble by having Lev and Igor arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature , and beyond the Trump regime ’ s control ?
It ’ ll all come out in the end .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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When the Feds first arrested Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, my gut told me that the Trump regime was behind the arrests, as a way of trying to insulate Donald Trump in the Ukraine scandal by scapegoating Rudy Giuliani and his henchmen. But I like my gut feelings to be supported by evidence, and when no evidence emerged to support to notion that Trump was behind the arrests, I set that notion aside. However, this past week has seen a huge shift in the Trump-Parnas narrative.
Lev Parnas went on cable news last week and revealed that after Lev was arrested, Donald Trump initially sent his own lawyers to represent Lev. Then at some point Lev concluded that these lawyers were trying to keep him quiet by making sure he didn’t get out on bail, and he fired them. Then over the weekend Lev’s current attorney tweeted an email in which Trump’s lawyers discussed what to do about Lev and Igor in relation to the impeachment process. This email was dated the day before Lev and Igor were arrested.
It’s long been widely reported that the Feds at the SDNY notified Attorney General Bill Barr about the arrest of Lev and Igor shortly before it happened. Now there’s evidence suggesting that the day before they were arrested, Trump’s lawyers expected to imminently have Lev and Igor under its thumb. Then after the arrest happened, Trump sent those same lawyers to apparently try to make sure Lev and Igor remained silent.
This all takes me back to the original question I posed on the day of the arrests: were Bill Barr and the Trump regime behind the arrests of Lev and Igor, as a way of trying to scapegoat Lev and Igor and Rudy Giuliani? If this was part of some scheme, it’s turned out to be a dumb one, as Rudy managed to fend off Trump by publicly bragging about having “insurance” against him, Trump still got impeached, and now Lev is giving evidence and interviews to anyone who will listen. So did Trump and Barr simply make a stupid gamble by having Lev and Igor arrested? Or were their arrests legitimate in nature, and beyond the Trump regime’s control? It’ll all come out in the end.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-20--Mitch McConnell is at it again

Mitch McConnell is at it again

Earlier this month Mitch McConnell signed onto a Senate Republican effort to simply dismiss the impeachment charges against Donald Trump , instead of having a trial .
At the time , Palmer Report pointed out that McConnell clearly didn ’ t have the votes to pull this off , and he was merely blowing smoke .
Yesterday , Donald Trump ’ s allies went on television and admitted that there aren ’ t enough votes to dismiss .
But now McConnell is quickly at it again .
Now that everyone involved has had to publicly admit that there never was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impeachment charges ahead of the trial , Mitch McConnell is now floating a new fantasy to Fox News .
He ’ s attaching his name to a new Senate Republican motion to introduce a “ kill switch ” into the impeachment trial rules , which would allow them to move for a dismissal at any point during the trial , if things get too ugly for Trump .
This is even more laughable than Mitch ’ s previous leaked fantasy .
Republican Senators are already nervous enough about being seen as complicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial – and thus getting punished by voters when they ’ re up for reelection – to the point that Mitch McConnell doesn ’ t currently have enough votes to dismiss the charges .
If the trial starts getting ugly for Trump , those same Republican Senators will become even more nervous about being seen as complicit .
If McConnell doesn ’ t have the votes to dismiss now , he sure as hell won ’ t have the votes to dismiss in the middle of an ugly trial .
Acquit at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dismiss during the trial ?
Absolutely not .
But this is simply how Mitch McConnell operates .
He takes a fantasy like this and he announces it as if it were going to happen .
Then the mainstream media begins tripping over itself to report this fantasy as if it were real , to the point of not reporting any of the real narratives , such as the growing number of Republican Senators who are getting nervous about the trial out loud .
As we explained yesterday , you almost never need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s only ever trying to distract everyone from what ’ s really going on .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Earlier this month Mitch McConnell signed onto a Senate Republican effort to simply dismiss the impeachment charges against Donald Trump, instead of having a trial. At the time, Palmer Report pointed out that McConnell clearly didn’t have the votes to pull this off, and he was merely blowing smoke. Yesterday, Donald Trump’s allies went on television and admitted that there aren’t enough votes to dismiss. But now McConnell is quickly at it again.
Now that everyone involved has had to publicly admit that there never was going to be any magic dismissal of the impeachment charges ahead of the trial, Mitch McConnell is now floating a new fantasy to Fox News. He’s attaching his name to a new Senate Republican motion to introduce a “kill switch” into the impeachment trial rules, which would allow them to move for a dismissal at any point during the trial, if things get too ugly for Trump. This is even more laughable than Mitch’s previous leaked fantasy.
Republican Senators are already nervous enough about being seen as complicit in gifting Donald Trump a sham impeachment trial – and thus getting punished by voters when they’re up for reelection – to the point that Mitch McConnell doesn’t currently have enough votes to dismiss the charges. If the trial starts getting ugly for Trump, those same Republican Senators will become even more nervous about being seen as complicit. If McConnell doesn’t have the votes to dismiss now, he sure as hell won’t have the votes to dismiss in the middle of an ugly trial. Acquit at the end of the trial? Probably. Dismiss during the trial? Absolutely not.
But this is simply how Mitch McConnell operates. He takes a fantasy like this and he announces it as if it were going to happen. Then the mainstream media begins tripping over itself to report this fantasy as if it were real, to the point of not reporting any of the real narratives, such as the growing number of Republican Senators who are getting nervous about the trial out loud. As we explained yesterday, you almost never need to listen to what McConnell is saying. He’s only ever trying to distract everyone from what’s really going on.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-20--Donald Trump just made a really stupid mistake

These days , Donald Trump pretty much spends all day saying stupid and absurd things in the hope that one of them will somehow stick .
For instance , on Saturday , Trump told New Yorkers that they ’ d better get their “ mops and buckets ” ready for when an unspecified flood arrives .
But last night Trump took the cake for stupidity when he basically labeled himself a terrorist , while completely botching recent U.S. history .
Here ’ s what Trump tweeted : Trump was quoting Congressman Doug Collins , one the most histrionic and idiotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins ’ quote , Trump was taking ownership of Collins ’ words .
That ’ s more than a bit troubling , for a couple reasons .
First , Trump is giving up any pretense of innocence , and he ’ s instead simply arguing that even bad people ( like him and the 9-11 terrorists ) deserve due process .
That ’ s not exactly his best argument at this point .
Second , and more troubling , Donald Trump apparently doesn ’ t know ( or doesn ’ t remember , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 9-11 terrorists died by their own hand , and thus never faced the U.S. legal system .
Trump appears to believe some alternate version of history in which the terrorists somehow survived being on the planes that crashed into buildings , and were then arrested , and received a fair trial .
What kind of blithering idiot thinks this is how 9-11 played out ?
Trump needs to resign the presidency , and also resign his citizenship .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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These days, Donald Trump pretty much spends all day saying stupid and absurd things in the hope that one of them will somehow stick. For instance, on Saturday, Trump told New Yorkers that they’d better get their “mops and buckets” ready for when an unspecified flood arrives. But last night Trump took the cake for stupidity when he basically labeled himself a terrorist, while completely botching recent U.S. history. Here’s what Trump tweeted:
“In the House, the President got less due process than the 9-11 terrorists got. This is a corrupt process?” Mark Levin @marklevinshow “Very much so!” @RepDougCollins @FoxNews
Trump was quoting Congressman Doug Collins, one the most histrionic and idiotic Republicans in the House. By tweeting Collins’ quote, Trump was taking ownership of Collins’ words. That’s more than a bit troubling, for a couple reasons. First, Trump is giving up any pretense of innocence, and he’s instead simply arguing that even bad people (like him and the 9-11 terrorists) deserve due process. That’s not exactly his best argument at this point.
Second, and more troubling, Donald Trump apparently doesn’t know (or doesn’t remember, or doesn’t care) that the 9-11 terrorists died by their own hand, and thus never faced the U.S. legal system. Trump appears to believe some alternate version of history in which the terrorists somehow survived being on the planes that crashed into buildings, and were then arrested, and received a fair trial. What kind of blithering idiot thinks this is how 9-11 played out? Trump needs to resign the presidency, and also resign his citizenship.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--None of this is going how Mitch McConnell wants

This evening Mitch McConnell announced his plans for how Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial will go .
It involves twelve hour… eh , nevermind .
It ’ s not even worth spelling out .
McConnell can announce whatever he wants , but when it comes to this trial , it ’ s already become abundantly clear that he ’ s not the one driving this train .
Last week Mitch McConnell announced that he was supporting a measure to dismiss the impeachment charges without even holding a trial .
Then over the weekend , even Team Trump quietly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t going to happen .
Last fall , McConnell announced that regardless of what the House did , he was going to have the Senate trial wrapped up before Christmas .
How ’ d that work out for him ?
In fact , at various points McConnell has announced that the trial would be comprehensive and run six days a week , and that the trial would last less than week .
It couldn ’ t be much more clear that Mitch McConnell has been throwing things at the wall in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest fantasy scenario he decides to float .
It ’ s actually a clever tactic , as it takes the media ’ s attention , and thus the public ’ s attention , away from who ’ s really running this trial .
It isn ’ t McConnell , it isn ’ t the Democrats , and it isn ’ t Trump either .
When a majority-rules body like the Senate has only a slight majority , the power falls into the hands of the handful of majority members who are least-aligned with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the votes to acquit Donald Trump , but he does not have the votes to conduct the trial however he pleases .
That becomes more clear by the day .
A handful of Senate Republicans have become openly nervous about how a sham trial might harm their own personal reelection prospects , and because McConnell doesn ’ t have a majority without them , they ’ re the ones who will dictate the terms of how the trial goes – not McConnell .
In other words , you can ( and very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is saying about the Senate impeachment trial .
Every few days he throws something new at the wall , in the hope of getting it to stick with his members , all while insisting he has the votes even when he doesn ’ t .
The fact that McConnell keeps contradicting himself is proof that he ’ s not in control of anything that ’ s happening with the trial .
We don ’ t know how this will go , but if you want to figure it out , start by ignoring @ @

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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This evening Mitch McConnell announced his plans for how Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial will go. It involves twelve hour… eh, nevermind. It’s not even worth spelling out. McConnell can announce whatever he wants, but when it comes to this trial, it’s already become abundantly clear that he’s not the one driving this train.
Last week Mitch McConnell announced that he was supporting a measure to dismiss the impeachment charges without even holding a trial. Then over the weekend, even Team Trump quietly admitted that a magic dismissal wasn’t going to happen. Last fall, McConnell announced that regardless of what the House did, he was going to have the Senate trial wrapped up before Christmas. How’d that work out for him? In fact, at various points McConnell has announced that the trial would be comprehensive and run six days a week, and that the trial would last less than week.
It couldn’t be much more clear that Mitch McConnell has been throwing things at the wall in order to get the media to run with whatever latest fantasy scenario he decides to float. It’s actually a clever tactic, as it takes the media’s attention, and thus the public’s attention, away from who’s really running this trial. It isn’t McConnell, it isn’t the Democrats, and it isn’t Trump either.
When a majority-rules body like the Senate has only a slight majority, the power falls into the hands of the handful of majority members who are least-aligned with the majority. Mitch McConnell clearly has the votes to acquit Donald Trump, but he does not have the votes to conduct the trial however he pleases. That becomes more clear by the day. A handful of Senate Republicans have become openly nervous about how a sham trial might harm their own personal reelection prospects, and because McConnell doesn’t have a majority without them, they’re the ones who will dictate the terms of how the trial goes – not McConnell.
In other words, you can (and very much should) ignore everything that Mitch McConnell is saying about the Senate impeachment trial. Every few days he throws something new at the wall, in the hope of getting it to stick with his members, all while insisting he has the votes even when he doesn’t. The fact that McConnell keeps contradicting himself is proof that he’s not in control of anything that’s happening with the trial. We don’t know how this will go, but if you want to figure it out, start by ignoring McConnell.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


LAND OF CONFUSION

Preparations are well under way for the 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos .
Hotel rooms have been prepared , events scheduled and name tags have been printed .
One of those name tags , however , has already become obsolete : that of Andrew L. Peek , the senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council who was supposed to accompany Donald Trump to Switzerland .
Before he was escorted out of the White House last Friday after a short two-month tenure , Peek was the third person on the job in just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Morrison ) and the website of the U.S. State Department still has him listed as “ DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR IRAQ AND IRAN , BUREAU OF NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS , December 11 , 2017 – Present ” .
Apparently , it is difficult for anyone to keep up with the personnel turnover in the Trump administration .
So far , the only explanation given with regard to Andrew Peek ’ s sudden and rather public departure from the White House was that he had been placed on administrative leave pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , paired with the rather ominous-sounding notion that a person working in such close proximity to the American president has unresolved security issues that warrant an investigation , has given rise to a number of rumors and speculations on social media .
In this online chatter , interpretations of the situation differ greatly , depending on the various users ’ political leanings .
The situation is very confusing and we are left with the rather alarming realization that in this land of confusion we currently find ourselves in , virtually any and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to be true .
One thing , however , is certain : Andrew Peek will not accompany Donald Trump to the Swiss mountains where the much-beleaguered president is headed on the eve of the first full day of the impeachment trial against him .
It is safe to assume that getting away from all of this will be a welcome respite for IMPOTUS the Third and that he is going to use the international forum to massively brag about his successes regarding the signing of the first phase of a trade deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump can expect mostly cordial encounters with business leaders from around the globe – after all , many of them have profited financially from his policies – he will also be confronted with discussions about climate change and the urgent need for global initiatives to fight the impending crisis .
Someone who – in contrast to Andrew Peek – will definitely be in attendance at the Davos meeting is Greta Thunberg .
The Swedish climate activist is scheduled to speak on the same day as Donald Trump and perhaps their paths will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering Greta a chance to give Trump , the climate change denier , yet another dirty look , just like she did at the United Nations gathering in New York last year .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Preparations are well under way for the 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. Hotel rooms have been prepared, events scheduled and name tags have been printed. One of those name tags, however, has already become obsolete: that of Andrew L. Peek, the senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council who was supposed to accompany Donald Trump to Switzerland.
Before he was escorted out of the White House last Friday after a short two-month tenure, Peek was the third person on the job in just one year (after Fiona Hill and Tim Morrison) and the website of the U.S. State Department still has him listed as “DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR IRAQ AND IRAN, BUREAU OF NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS, December 11, 2017 – Present”. Apparently, it is difficult for anyone to keep up with the personnel turnover in the Trump administration.
So far, the only explanation given with regard to Andrew Peek’s sudden and rather public departure from the White House was that he had been placed on administrative leave pending a security-related investigation. This dearth of information, paired with the rather ominous-sounding notion that a person working in such close proximity to the American president has unresolved security issues that warrant an investigation, has given rise to a number of rumors and speculations on social media. In this online chatter, interpretations of the situation differ greatly, depending on the various users’ political leanings. The situation is very confusing and we are left with the rather alarming realization that in this land of confusion we currently find ourselves in, virtually any and all of the speculation could actually turn out to be true.
One thing, however, is certain: Andrew Peek will not accompany Donald Trump to the Swiss mountains where the much-beleaguered president is headed on the eve of the first full day of the impeachment trial against him. It is safe to assume that getting away from all of this will be a welcome respite for IMPOTUS the Third and that he is going to use the international forum to massively brag about his successes regarding the signing of the first phase of a trade deal with China and the USMCA. While Donald Trump can expect mostly cordial encounters with business leaders from around the globe – after all, many of them have profited financially from his policies – he will also be confronted with discussions about climate change and the urgent need for global initiatives to fight the impending crisis.
Someone who – in contrast to Andrew Peek – will definitely be in attendance at the Davos meeting is Greta Thunberg. The Swedish climate activist is scheduled to speak on the same day as Donald Trump and perhaps their paths will cross on that mountaintop in Switzerland, offering Greta a chance to give Trump, the climate change denier, yet another dirty look, just like she did at the United Nations gathering in New York last year.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Team Trump dissolves into total chaos heading into impeachment trial

Earlier today , Palmer Report explained why Mitch McConnell keeps contradicting himself when it comes to how he ’ s going to run the Senate impeachment trial : he ’ s not going to run it , because he ’ s not in charge .
A handful of GOP Senators , who are nervous about a sham trial blowing back on their own personal odds of reelection , are in control of the trial .
That means Trump is very much not in charge of the trial either .
McConnell and Trump are each resorting to throwing things at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the narrative about the trial , since they have no hope of controlling the actual trial .
McConnell is now on his eighth or ninth publicly stated iteration of how he ’ d like the trial to go ( we ’ ve lost count ) .
Trump , for his part , is also now rapidly contradicting his own supposed gameplan .
For instance , last week the Trump regime let it be known to the media that it wouldn ’ t use any House Republicans in the Senate impeachment trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering how inept the House Republicans were during the House impeachment hearings , and how little they were able to do to try to help Trump in the court of public opinion .
But now Fox News just reported tonight that “ Congressional Members of Pres @ realDonaldTrump ’ s impeachment team are Reps Doug Collins , Mike Johnson , Jim Jordan , Debbie Lesko , Mark Meadows , John Ratcliffe , Elise Stefanik , and Lee Zeldin.
” Wait , what ?
So Trump is having House Republicans participate in his Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wouldn ’ t have them ?
Or he ’ s naming them , but he ’ s not going to let them participate ?
Team Trump is leaking this to its pals at Fox News , who are going to report it verbatim , and yet Team Trump still can ’ t figure out how to coherently put its propaganda together .
Trump and his people are in total chaos heading into this trial .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Earlier today, Palmer Report explained why Mitch McConnell keeps contradicting himself when it comes to how he’s going to run the Senate impeachment trial: he’s not going to run it, because he’s not in charge. A handful of GOP Senators, who are nervous about a sham trial blowing back on their own personal odds of reelection, are in control of the trial. That means Trump is very much not in charge of the trial either.
McConnell and Trump are each resorting to throwing things at the wall in the hope of taking control of the narrative about the trial, since they have no hope of controlling the actual trial. McConnell is now on his eighth or ninth publicly stated iteration of how he’d like the trial to go (we’ve lost count). Trump, for his part, is also now rapidly contradicting his own supposed gameplan.
For instance, last week the Trump regime let it be known to the media that it wouldn’t use any House Republicans in the Senate impeachment trial. That wasn’t a surprise, considering how inept the House Republicans were during the House impeachment hearings, and how little they were able to do to try to help Trump in the court of public opinion. But now Fox News just reported tonight that “Congressional Members of Pres
@realDonaldTrump’s impeachment team are Reps Doug Collins, Mike Johnson, Jim Jordan, Debbie Lesko, Mark Meadows, John Ratcliffe, Elise Stefanik, and Lee Zeldin.” Wait, what?
So Trump is having House Republicans participate in his Senate impeachment trial, after having recently said he wouldn’t have them? Or he’s naming them, but he’s not going to let them participate? Team Trump is leaking this to its pals at Fox News, who are going to report it verbatim, and yet Team Trump still can’t figure out how to coherently put its propaganda together. Trump and his people are in total chaos heading into this trial.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Donald Trump’s countdown to prison begins

If Donald Trump loses the election in November , as he ’ s currently on track to do , he ’ ll officially no longer be President of the United States on January 20th , 2021 .
He can hide under the Oval Office desk if he wants , but the new President will be sworn in anyway , and at that point law enforcement will haul Trump out by his ankles if he refuses to leave .
Even if Trump leaves office peacefully , he ’ ll still be immediately arrested .
This isn ’ t optimism , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or any of the other propaganda terms that the fatalists like to throw around whenever the subject of Donald Trump ’ s arrest comes up .
This is simply where 100 % of the facts and evidence point .
It ’ s firmly established that a grand jury in New York is already targeting Trump for criminal indictment on state charges .
In fact the court battle over Trump ’ s tax returns is partly because this grand jury is attempting to obtain them .
Grand juries only exist for one reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York grand jury is clearly going to have an indictment in place against Donald Trump by the time he leaves office , whether it obtains his tax returns or not , because the publicly available evidence and testimony alone is more than enough for the grand jury to return an indictment .
We saw New York unveil its criminal indictment against Paul Manafort just minutes after his federal trial ended .
This tells us that New York won ’ t waste a minute when it comes to Trump ’ s indictment either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer officially President , and therefore able to be arrested , he will be arrested .
This is independent of any federal criminal charges that the next DOJ might decide to bring against Trump .
This means that if you spend this year working hard and working smart , Donald Trump will lose the election in November , and he will be arrested on January 20th , 2021 – precisely one year from today .
The countdown to Trump ’ s arrest has begun .
So it ’ s time to shout down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend this year campaigning against Trump .
If you succeed , there is a 100 % chance he ’ ll go to prison once you defeat him .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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If Donald Trump loses the election in November, as he’s currently on track to do, he’ll officially no longer be President of the United States on January 20th, 2021. He can hide under the Oval Office desk if he wants, but the new President will be sworn in anyway, and at that point law enforcement will haul Trump out by his ankles if he refuses to leave. Even if Trump leaves office peacefully, he’ll still be immediately arrested.
This isn’t optimism, or wishful thinking, or a pipe dream, or any of the other propaganda terms that the fatalists like to throw around whenever the subject of Donald Trump’s arrest comes up. This is simply where 100% of the facts and evidence point. It’s firmly established that a grand jury in New York is already targeting Trump for criminal indictment on state charges. In fact the court battle over Trump’s tax returns is partly because this grand jury is attempting to obtain them.
Grand juries only exist for one reason: to indict people. The New York grand jury is clearly going to have an indictment in place against Donald Trump by the time he leaves office, whether it obtains his tax returns or not, because the publicly available evidence and testimony alone is more than enough for the grand jury to return an indictment. We saw New York unveil its criminal indictment against Paul Manafort just minutes after his federal trial ended. This tells us that New York won’t waste a minute when it comes to Trump’s indictment either. Literally the minute he’s no longer officially President, and therefore able to be arrested, he will be arrested. This is independent of any federal criminal charges that the next DOJ might decide to bring against Trump.
This means that if you spend this year working hard and working smart, Donald Trump will lose the election in November, and he will be arrested on January 20th, 2021 – precisely one year from today. The countdown to Trump’s arrest has begun. So it’s time to shout down the fatalists and get out there and spend this year campaigning against Trump. If you succeed, there is a 100% chance he’ll go to prison once you defeat him.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Donald Trump just got bad news at the worst possible time

Right now Mitch McConnell is doing an almost comical job of pretending he has the votes to run the Senate impeachment trial in whatever way he pleases .
Based on public statements from certain Republican Senators , and the fact that McConnell ’ s motion to dismiss the charges has already failed , it ’ s clear that McConnell is not in charge of what ’ s going to happen in this trial , the Senate GOP holdouts are .
That handful of Republican Senators – the ones who are afraid that a sham impeachment trial will prompt voters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reelection – are the ones who will decide everything about the trial .
They ’ ll decide which witnesses , if any , are called .
They ’ ll decide what the trial schedule will look like .
McConnell keeps floating his fantasies about the trial as if they were a foregone conclusion , knowing the media will keep parroting it .
But the reality is that McConnell has zero control over what happens next .
Instead it ’ s those holdout GOP Senators who in control , and they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which way they should lean .
That ’ s why today ’ s new CNN polling represents particularly bad news for Donald Trump , and bad timing for him .
It shows that 51 % of Americans want Trump to be removed from office by the Senate .
It also shows that 69 % of Americans want witnesses to be called during the impeachment trial .
This poll is in line with numerous other polls conducted during the House impeachment hearings .
It shows that Americans are just as in favor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as opposed to a sham trial , as they were a month or two ago .
These new numbers are rather loudly telling the holdout Senate Republicans that their best chance at retaining their own seats is to call witnesses during the impeachment trial , and to think strongly about removing Trump altogether .
Even if they don ’ t have the stomach to remove him , they know they can split the difference by calling witnesses like John Bolton and Lev Parnas and letting the chips fall where they may .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this trial , but McConnell has zero say over it .
It ’ s entirely in the hands of a few GOP Senators who are worried about their own continued viability with voters .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Right now Mitch McConnell is doing an almost comical job of pretending he has the votes to run the Senate impeachment trial in whatever way he pleases. Based on public statements from certain Republican Senators, and the fact that McConnell’s motion to dismiss the charges has already failed, it’s clear that McConnell is not in charge of what’s going to happen in this trial, the Senate GOP holdouts are.
That handful of Republican Senators – the ones who are afraid that a sham impeachment trial will prompt voters to punish them when they’re up for reelection – are the ones who will decide everything about the trial. They’ll decide which witnesses, if any, are called. They’ll decide what the trial schedule will look like. McConnell keeps floating his fantasies about the trial as if they were a foregone conclusion, knowing the media will keep parroting it. But the reality is that McConnell has zero control over what happens next. Instead it’s those holdout GOP Senators who in control, and they’re looking for a sign when it comes to which way they should lean.
That’s why today’s new CNN polling represents particularly bad news for Donald Trump, and bad timing for him. It shows that 51% of Americans want Trump to be removed from office by the Senate. It also shows that 69% of Americans want witnesses to be called during the impeachment trial. This poll is in line with numerous other polls conducted during the House impeachment hearings. It shows that Americans are just as in favor of Trump’s removal, and just as opposed to a sham trial, as they were a month or two ago.
These new numbers are rather loudly telling the holdout Senate Republicans that their best chance at retaining their own seats is to call witnesses during the impeachment trial, and to think strongly about removing Trump altogether. Even if they don’t have the stomach to remove him, they know they can split the difference by calling witnesses like John Bolton and Lev Parnas and letting the chips fall where they may. We don’t know what will happen with this trial, but McConnell has zero say over it. It’s entirely in the hands of a few GOP Senators who are worried about their own continued viability with voters.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-22--Rachel Maddow just nailed it

Rachel Maddow just nailed it

Over the past week I ’ ve been pointing out that , regardless of what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell might want us to believe , he ’ s not in control of the Senate impeachment trial .
I ’ ve been growing a bit lonely while waiting for other pundits out there to come around to the same conclusion .
But now Rachel Maddow , one of the very best in the business , appears to see it the same way I do .
Mitch McConnell uses a consistent strategy .
He announces or leaks some fantasy of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it .
He sits back and enjoys watching the media repeat his words as if they were fact for a few days .
Then he quietly admits that particular fantasy isn ’ t going to happen , because he never did have the votes for it .
Then he floats some new fantasy about how he ’ s going to conduct the trial , and the cycle starts over .
He forces everyone to focus on fighting back against the imaginary scenarios he floats , instead of fighting over things that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clever strategy on McConnell ’ s part , but it only works when the media is complicit in parroting his fantasies , and when the public is complicit in believing it .
After McConnell predictably had to abandon his twelve-hour-a-day impeachment hearing fantasy today , Rachel Maddow tweeted this : “ Senator McConnell said he had the votes to pass the resolution distributed last night .
Clearly , he didn ’ t — or he wouldn ’ t have had to make last-minute changes to it today .
Just worth keeping in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what votes he says he has.
” She ’ s right , of course .
But then again , she ’ s the smartest person on television .
Now that she ’ s pointing out Mitch McConnell is wearing no clothes when it comes to these head-fakes , hopefully other television pundits will start to do the same .
We all know that McConnell is a consistent liar .
We need to stop making the mistake of suddenly believing him whenever he confidently announces that he ’ s going to pull off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the votes – especially when he doesn ’ t have the votes .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Over the past week I’ve been pointing out that, regardless of what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell might want us to believe, he’s not in control of the Senate impeachment trial. I’ve been growing a bit lonely while waiting for other pundits out there to come around to the same conclusion. But now Rachel Maddow, one of the very best in the business, appears to see it the same way I do.
Mitch McConnell uses a consistent strategy. He announces or leaks some fantasy of his. He claims he has the votes for it. He sits back and enjoys watching the media repeat his words as if they were fact for a few days. Then he quietly admits that particular fantasy isn’t going to happen, because he never did have the votes for it. Then he floats some new fantasy about how he’s going to conduct the trial, and the cycle starts over. He forces everyone to focus on fighting back against the imaginary scenarios he floats, instead of fighting over things that are actually real and possible.
This is a clever strategy on McConnell’s part, but it only works when the media is complicit in parroting his fantasies, and when the public is complicit in believing it. After McConnell predictably had to abandon his twelve-hour-a-day impeachment hearing fantasy today, Rachel Maddow tweeted this: “Senator McConnell said he had the votes to pass the resolution distributed last night. Clearly, he didn’t — or he wouldn’t have had to make last-minute changes to it today. Just worth keeping in mind in terms of his future assertions about what votes he says he has.”
She’s right, of course. But then again, she’s the smartest person on television. Now that she’s pointing out Mitch McConnell is wearing no clothes when it comes to these head-fakes, hopefully other television pundits will start to do the same. We all know that McConnell is a consistent liar. We need to stop making the mistake of suddenly believing him whenever he confidently announces that he’s going to pull off something scary. He always says he has the votes – especially when he doesn’t have the votes.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--An impeachment trial acquittal is still likely a body blow for Donald Trump

Now that Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial has begun , we ’ re being reminded of two divergent realities .
First , Mitch McConnell isn ’ t getting to pull off the complete sham of a trial he ’ d been promising , because too many of his Senate Republicans are already too nervous about facing voter backlash .
Second , even though the trial will not go the way that McConnell and Donald Trump are hoping , Trump will still almost certainly be acquitted at the end of it .
Even with an acquittal , the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a body blow to Donald Trump .
Why ?
He ’ s already too far behind , and the clock is ticking .
The November 2020 election is still a long way away .
Plenty can happen between now and then .
But as of right now , Trump ’ s roughly 40 % approval rating gives him roughly 0 % chance of winning in 2020 .
If the election were held today , he ’ d lose badly .
The election is obviously not being held today .
But Trump has less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval rating , or he ’ ll lose .
We ’ ve watched Trump try and fail to boost his 2020 odds by conspiring with Ukraine , which blew up in his face .
We ’ ve watched him bet big on a DOJ Inspector General report that ended up going against him .
We ’ ve watched Trump try and fail to use the House impeachment proceedings to gain new supporters .
He tried to use military conflict with Iran to boost his popularity , but he couldn ’ t pull it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of time and opportunities .
The Senate trial , being conducted by his Republican allies , is an opportunity that he must take advantage of to boost his popularity .
But with the way things are now going , it ’ s difficult to imagine a scenario in which Donald Trump emerges from this Senate impeachment trial with an improved approval rating .
Current polling shows that about half of Americans want Trump removed , and about two-thirds of Americans want a legitimate trial with witnesses .
That means about one-sixth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but do want to see a fair trial .
If Trump gets his sham trial , some of these folks will likely turn against him .
And if witnesses do testify against him , even more of these people will turn against him .
On the other hand , Trump ’ s acquittal won ’ t gain him a single new supporter , because everyone is already expecting his own party to acquit him .
Donald Trump needs to use this Senate impeachment trial to boost his approval rating by at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into contention for 2020 .
If his approval rating stays the same or goes down as a result of this trial , then it ’ s a major loss for him , even if he is acquitted by his own party in the end .
It ’ s important to keep these realistic parameters in mind as the trial plays out .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Now that Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial has begun, we’re being reminded of two divergent realities. First, Mitch McConnell isn’t getting to pull off the complete sham of a trial he’d been promising, because too many of his Senate Republicans are already too nervous about facing voter backlash. Second, even though the trial will not go the way that McConnell and Donald Trump are hoping, Trump will still almost certainly be acquitted at the end of it.
Even with an acquittal, the Senate impeachment trial will still end up being a body blow to Donald Trump. Why? He’s already too far behind, and the clock is ticking. The November 2020 election is still a long way away. Plenty can happen between now and then. But as of right now, Trump’s roughly 40% approval rating gives him roughly 0% chance of winning in 2020. If the election were held today, he’d lose badly. The election is obviously not being held today. But Trump has less than ten months to vastly improve his approval rating, or he’ll lose.
We’ve watched Trump try and fail to boost his 2020 odds by conspiring with Ukraine, which blew up in his face. We’ve watched him bet big on a DOJ Inspector General report that ended up going against him. We’ve watched Trump try and fail to use the House impeachment proceedings to gain new supporters. He tried to use military conflict with Iran to boost his popularity, but he couldn’t pull it off. Trump is starting to run out of time and opportunities. The Senate trial, being conducted by his Republican allies, is an opportunity that he must take advantage of to boost his popularity.
But with the way things are now going, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which Donald Trump emerges from this Senate impeachment trial with an improved approval rating. Current polling shows that about half of Americans want Trump removed, and about two-thirds of Americans want a legitimate trial with witnesses. That means about one-sixth of Americans haven’t turned against him, but do want to see a fair trial. If Trump gets his sham trial, some of these folks will likely turn against him. And if witnesses do testify against him, even more of these people will turn against him. On the other hand, Trump’s acquittal won’t gain him a single new supporter, because everyone is already expecting his own party to acquit him.
Donald Trump needs to use this Senate impeachment trial to boost his approval rating by at least five points if he wants to get into contention for 2020. If his approval rating stays the same or goes down as a result of this trial, then it’s a major loss for him, even if he is acquitted by his own party in the end. It’s important to keep these realistic parameters in mind as the trial plays out.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Things just got real

Things just got real

Wowza !
Things just got real .
Mitch McConnell ’ s been forced to start doing his job .
The evidence request read into the record of the Senate impeachment trial is going to be brutal and Trump has zero defense for it .
To begin with , Trump ’ s lawyers Jay Sekulow and Pat Cipollone , in their opening statements , were rambling and without impact .
Even a child would have remarked at their lack of conviction and the fact that they never once addressed the issue at hand .
Horrifically , they also lied multiple times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chief Justice John Roberts .
Cipollone lied about the Republicans being kept from the SCIF during the hearings in the House and he straight up lied about Trump not being able to call witnesses .
Why would he do this ?
Because he ’ s involved up to his eyeballs and he ’ s a drowning man .
This rambling idiot committed perjury in one of the most important proceedings of the century , but we believe it ’ s not just to protect Trump , but in order to cling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sekulow is already being exposed by Lev Parnas as being all up in Trump ’ s corrupt antics .
He also lied when he said the Mueller Report cleared Trump .
Like Manafort , we predict he ’ ll soon be hocking those cheesy cufflinks in order to lawyer up .
And we will see the true color of his hair once he ’ s locked up .
The U.S. government is a fearsome machine .
People are doing their jobs and hubris is no match for it .
Trump is polling terribly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McConnell has finally seen that his own re-election is at stake and it ’ s not looking good .
Like the old saying goes , you can ’ t fool all the people all the time .
The Republicans should have listened .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Wowza! Things just got real. Mitch McConnell’s been forced to start doing his job. The evidence request read into the record of the Senate impeachment trial is going to be brutal and Trump has zero defense for it.
To begin with, Trump’s lawyers Jay Sekulow and Pat Cipollone, in their opening statements, were rambling and without impact. Even a child would have remarked at their lack of conviction and the fact that they never once addressed the issue at hand. Horrifically, they also lied multiple times into the record and in front of the Chief Justice John Roberts. Cipollone lied about the Republicans being kept from the SCIF during the hearings in the House and he straight up lied about Trump not being able to call witnesses. Why would he do this? Because he’s involved up to his eyeballs and he’s a drowning man.
This rambling idiot committed perjury in one of the most important proceedings of the century, but we believe it’s not just to protect Trump, but in order to cling to his own debris of the Trumptanic. Sekulow is already being exposed by Lev Parnas as being all up in Trump’s corrupt antics. He also lied when he said the Mueller Report cleared Trump. Like Manafort, we predict he’ll soon be hocking those cheesy cufflinks in order to lawyer up. And we will see the true color of his hair once he’s locked up.
The U.S. government is a fearsome machine. People are doing their jobs and hubris is no match for it. Trump is polling terribly, and people are starting to listen. McConnell has finally seen that his own re-election is at stake and it’s not looking good. Like the old saying goes, you can’t fool all the people all the time. The Republicans should have listened.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Why Hillary Clinton just made her big 2020 move

First the Bernie Sanders campaign issued dishonest talking points aimed at harming Elizabeth Warren .
Then the Bernie campaign released a video which purported to show Joe Biden talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security , when in fact Biden was mocking Paul Ryan ’ s desire to cut those programs .
Then a key longtime Bernie surrogate published an op-ed accusing Biden of “ corruption ” – coming dangerously close to aligning with Donald Trump ’ s lies about Biden .
The toxic divisiveness coming from the Bernie Sanders campaign has gotten so dangerously out of control , Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night over the op-ed .
But there ’ s still little reason to expect that Bernie will rein in his campaign ’ s antics any time soon .
He populates his campaigns with these kinds of henchmen for a reason .
Since 2015 , Bernie has been consistently looking the other way while his henchmen carry out dishonest attacks on competing Democratic candidates , and while his support base spreads lies about other Democrats across social media .
Bernie only ever occasionally reins in these antics when public pressure is on him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his surrogates , and his supporters are allowed to consistently carry out these dishonest and divisive antics – but if anyone calls Bernie out for it , Bernie ’ s supporters label that person as the one who ’ s supposedly being “ divisive.
” Throw in the media ’ s fear of being harassed by Bernie ’ s base for daring to suggest that he ’ s anything less than a perfect candidate , and it ’ s created an asymmetrical scenario in which the other Democratic candidates have a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s divisive antics .
And yet , with the Bernie Sanders campaign now loudly spreading damaging lies about Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren – the two candidates who are by far the most likely to end up being the Democratic nominee – something must be done .
Biden and Warren have one hand tied behind their backs when it comes to asking Bernie ’ s campaign and supporters to knock off this nonsense , because they face the prospect of having to come back and ask Bernie ’ s supporters for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton , who just made her big 2020 move .
Hillary Clinton is , rather obviously , not running in 2020 .
Accordingly , she doesn ’ t have to care whether voters like her .
She can offend Bernie Sanders ’ base and not have to worry about whether she gets their votes later .
So she said this about Bernie in a new documentary : “ He was in Congress for years .
He had one senator support him .
Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a career politician .
It ’ s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.
” Bernie ’ s supporters are now ( understandably ) enraged at Hillary Clinton .
What she ’ s saying is mean spirited , factually accurate as it may be .
But she ’ s the one person in Democratic politics who can get away with saying what everyone else in Democratic politics knows to be true : Bernie spent decades in the House and then Senate stomping his feet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing done , being a cross between a mascot and a well-meaning punchline .
Then the media decided to build this bizarre fictional heroic narrative about him in the 2016 election , which sucked in a whole lot of people who weren ’ t all that familiar with politics , and didn ’ t know that most liberals have always known Bernie was kind of a joke .
The tricky part is that Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden can ’ t get away with saying that about Bernie Sanders .
But Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
She ’ s speaking the ugly truth that needs to be spoken , which should help sober up some folks who have passively supporting Bernie Sanders without really understanding how they even got sucked into it .
Hillary is making herself the main target for the Bernie fanatics out there , but she ’ s fine with that , because it ’ ll get them to stop focusing on spreading lies about Biden and Warren for awhile .
Some of you are already gearing up to leave comments about how Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what she said , and how I ’ m being “ divisive ” for pointing out the ugly truth about why she said it .
But that just underscores the absurd imbalance of the past two Democratic primary races , where Bernie Sanders and his people can be as toxically and dishonestly divisive as they want , and the people who ask Bernie to knock it off are the ones who get labeled “ divisive.
” So be it .
This election is far too important to allow it to get screwed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tacitly encourages his campaign and his supporters to spread lies about other Democratic primary candidates .
By the way , there ’ s a reason the Bernie campaign has been ramping up its divisive attacks over the past few weeks : Bernie is not on track to win , or to even come close .
Even if he wins Iowa and New Hampshire ( which is unlikely ) , he ’ s on track to get blown out in South Carolina , and then more importantly he ’ ll get blown out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t read the polling averages and see how this is the case , or if you think your gut is more accurate than the polling averages , you shouldn ’ t be in the prediction business .
It ’ s how he lost last time ( by four million votes ) , and it ’ s how he ’ ll lose this time .
Bernie won ’ t be the nominee .
It ’ s time to put a stop to the damage he ’ s trying to do to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nominee .
The stakes are too high in this election to let Bernie ’ s fragile ego and bitter vindictiveness run wild unchecked .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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First the Bernie Sanders campaign issued dishonest talking points aimed at harming Elizabeth Warren. Then the Bernie campaign released a video which purported to show Joe Biden talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security, when in fact Biden was mocking Paul Ryan’s desire to cut those programs. Then a key longtime Bernie surrogate published an op-ed accusing Biden of “corruption” – coming dangerously close to aligning with Donald Trump’s lies about Biden.
The toxic divisiveness coming from the Bernie Sanders campaign has gotten so dangerously out of control, Sanders ended up publicly apologizing to Biden last night over the op-ed. But there’s still little reason to expect that Bernie will rein in his campaign’s antics any time soon. He populates his campaigns with these kinds of henchmen for a reason. Since 2015, Bernie has been consistently looking the other way while his henchmen carry out dishonest attacks on competing Democratic candidates, and while his support base spreads lies about other Democrats across social media. Bernie only ever occasionally reins in these antics when public pressure is on him to do so.
For some reason Bernie, his surrogates, and his supporters are allowed to consistently carry out these dishonest and divisive antics – but if anyone calls Bernie out for it, Bernie’s supporters label that person as the one who’s supposedly being “divisive.” Throw in the media’s fear of being harassed by Bernie’s base for daring to suggest that he’s anything less than a perfect candidate, and it’s created an asymmetrical scenario in which the other Democratic candidates have a very tricky time of pushing back against Bernie’s divisive antics.
And yet, with the Bernie Sanders campaign now loudly spreading damaging lies about Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren – the two candidates who are by far the most likely to end up being the Democratic nominee – something must be done. Biden and Warren have one hand tied behind their backs when it comes to asking Bernie’s campaign and supporters to knock off this nonsense, because they face the prospect of having to come back and ask Bernie’s supporters for their votes in the general election. Enter Hillary Clinton, who just made her big 2020 move.
Hillary Clinton is, rather obviously, not running in 2020. Accordingly, she doesn’t have to care whether voters like her. She can offend Bernie Sanders’ base and not have to worry about whether she gets their votes later. So she said this about Bernie in a new documentary: “He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done … He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.”
Bernie’s supporters are now (understandably) enraged at Hillary Clinton. What she’s saying is mean spirited, factually accurate as it may be. But she’s the one person in Democratic politics who can get away with saying what everyone else in Democratic politics knows to be true: Bernie spent decades in the House and then Senate stomping his feet, getting along with no one, getting nothing done, being a cross between a mascot and a well-meaning punchline. Then the media decided to build this bizarre fictional heroic narrative about him in the 2016 election, which sucked in a whole lot of people who weren’t all that familiar with politics, and didn’t know that most liberals have always known Bernie was kind of a joke.
The tricky part is that Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden can’t get away with saying that about Bernie Sanders. But Hillary Clinton can say it, and she just did. She’s speaking the ugly truth that needs to be spoken, which should help sober up some folks who have passively supporting Bernie Sanders without really understanding how they even got sucked into it. Hillary is making herself the main target for the Bernie fanatics out there, but she’s fine with that, because it’ll get them to stop focusing on spreading lies about Biden and Warren for awhile.
Some of you are already gearing up to leave comments about how Hillary is being “divisive” by saying what she said, and how I’m being “divisive” for pointing out the ugly truth about why she said it. But that just underscores the absurd imbalance of the past two Democratic primary races, where Bernie Sanders and his people can be as toxically and dishonestly divisive as they want, and the people who ask Bernie to knock it off are the ones who get labeled “divisive.” So be it.
This election is far too important to allow it to get screwed up by a toxically divisive Democratic primary candidate who tacitly encourages his campaign and his supporters to spread lies about other Democratic primary candidates. By the way, there’s a reason the Bernie campaign has been ramping up its divisive attacks over the past few weeks: Bernie is not on track to win, or to even come close. Even if he wins Iowa and New Hampshire (which is unlikely), he’s on track to get blown out in South Carolina, and then more importantly he’ll get blown out again on Super Tuesday. If you can’t read the polling averages and see how this is the case, or if you think your gut is more accurate than the polling averages, you shouldn’t be in the prediction business.
It’s how he lost last time (by four million votes), and it’s how he’ll lose this time. Bernie won’t be the nominee. It’s time to put a stop to the damage he’s trying to do to the Democratic candidates who could end up being the nominee. The stakes are too high in this election to let Bernie’s fragile ego and bitter vindictiveness run wild unchecked.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--The real reason Mitt Romney is playing this trial the way he’s playing it

Mitt Romney ’ s name is trending right now because he ’ s announced that he ’ s going to support Mitch McConnell ’ s plan to let both sides present their impeachment trial cases , before deciding whether to call witnesses .
Everyone is outraged that Romney is going this route , accusing him of “ caving ” and having no spine .
That outrage is well-meaning , and Romney deserves all the criticism you can throw at him in general .
But just about everyone is misunderstanding what Romney is doing here , because no one seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
Mitt Romney isn ’ t doing what ’ s best for Donald Trump , or Mitch McConnell , or the Republican Party .
Romney is doing what ’ s best for Romney .
Romney would love to be the Republican nominee for president in 2020 , and for that to happen , he has to take Donald Trump down .
But he has to thread that needle very carefully , because if Trump isn ’ t going down , Romney wants to be able to keep his Senate career on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to see which way the wind is going to end up blowing in this impeachment trial , before he commits himself to one side or the other .
If he sees an opportunity at any point during this trial to knock Trump out by calling damaging witnesses like John Bolton , and if he has the three additional GOP Senate votes he needs , he ’ ll do it .
If that opportunity doesn ’ t arise , Romney won ’ t push for witnesses .
It ’ s as simple as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling in line with Mitch McConnell on today ’ s vote ?
It ’ s the only way to keep his options open .
Romney still has the ability to force witnesses to testify , if at any point during the trial he decides that ’ s what is personally best for his own career ambitions .
It ’ s very , very , very easy to understand what these Republican Senators are doing , why they ’ re doing it , and under what conditions they ’ ll do what thing next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set aside concepts like “ trust ” and “ courage ” and “ growing a spine ” and “ caving ” and “ doing the right thing.
” Those are not concepts that apply to Republicans .
You also have to set aside the nonsense idea that the Republican Senators are motivated by a desire to help Trump .
They couldn ’ t care less about Trump .
They ’ re each selfishly looking to figure out what ’ s best for themselves .
It ’ s what makes them Republicans .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
But he didn ’ t “ cave ” today .
That ’ s simply not what happened .
He decided to keep his options open so he can selfishly go either way on witnesses , depending on which way the wind ends up blowing in this trial .
It ’ s truly as simple as that .
Any attempt at characterizing any of this as doing the “ right thing ” or “ wrong thing ” is gibberish .
In addition , throughout this process , Romney will say things aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are best ignored .
Romney will do what Romney ends up deciding is best for Romney .
There are literally no other factors at play here .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Mitt Romney’s name is trending right now because he’s announced that he’s going to support Mitch McConnell’s plan to let both sides present their impeachment trial cases, before deciding whether to call witnesses. Everyone is outraged that Romney is going this route, accusing him of “caving” and having no spine. That outrage is well-meaning, and Romney deserves all the criticism you can throw at him in general. But just about everyone is misunderstanding what Romney is doing here, because no one seems to want to acknowledge how these things actually work.
Mitt Romney isn’t doing what’s best for Donald Trump, or Mitch McConnell, or the Republican Party. Romney is doing what’s best for Romney. Romney would love to be the Republican nominee for president in 2020, and for that to happen, he has to take Donald Trump down. But he has to thread that needle very carefully, because if Trump isn’t going down, Romney wants to be able to keep his Senate career on track.
To that end, Mitt Romney wants to see which way the wind is going to end up blowing in this impeachment trial, before he commits himself to one side or the other. If he sees an opportunity at any point during this trial to knock Trump out by calling damaging witnesses like John Bolton, and if he has the three additional GOP Senate votes he needs, he’ll do it. If that opportunity doesn’t arise, Romney won’t push for witnesses. It’s as simple as that.
So why is Mitt Romney falling in line with Mitch McConnell on today’s vote? It’s the only way to keep his options open. Romney still has the ability to force witnesses to testify, if at any point during the trial he decides that’s what is personally best for his own career ambitions.
It’s very, very, very easy to understand what these Republican Senators are doing, why they’re doing it, and under what conditions they’ll do what thing next. All you have to do is set aside concepts like “trust” and “courage” and “growing a spine” and “caving” and “doing the right thing.” Those are not concepts that apply to Republicans. You also have to set aside the nonsense idea that the Republican Senators are motivated by a desire to help Trump. They couldn’t care less about Trump. They’re each selfishly looking to figure out what’s best for themselves. It’s what makes them Republicans.
I hate Mitt Romney even more than you do. But he didn’t “cave” today. That’s simply not what happened. He decided to keep his options open so he can selfishly go either way on witnesses, depending on which way the wind ends up blowing in this trial. It’s truly as simple as that. Any attempt at characterizing any of this as doing the “right thing” or “wrong thing” is gibberish. In addition, throughout this process, Romney will say things aimed at playing both sides. His words are best ignored. Romney will do what Romney ends up deciding is best for Romney. There are literally no other factors at play here.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--We told you Mitch McConnell isn’t in control of this impeachment trial

Yesterday we pointed out that , for all his confident bluster , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was not in control of what was happening with Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
Instead , the shots were being called by a handful of holdout Republican Senators who fear that a sham trial could prompt voters to harm their own personal political careers .
Sure enough , we ’ re already seeing proof of that today .
Yesterday Mitch McConnell announced that he was going to give each side a total of 24 hours , spread over two days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the noon-ish start time each day , this ensured that the proceedings would be running as late as midnight , making it difficult for the public to tune in and keep up .
Palmer Report pointed out that this was merely yet another instance of McConnell announcing his fantasy as if it were fact , and hoping the media would report it as fact , thus discouraging the Resistance .
Sure enough , McConnell has “ decided ” today to change it from two days to three .
This means roughly eight hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings will be wrapping up in prime time each day .
McConnell has also “ decided ” to allow all evidence to be introduced by default , short of an objection .
We ’ re putting the word “ decided ” in quotation marks because McConnell isn ’ t the one who made this decision .
NBC News is reporting that Susan Collins pressured McConnell into the change .
Susan Collins deserves no credit for this , and she ’ s every bit as untrustworthy as Mitch McConnell .
But this is nonetheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that Collins is already nervous about a sham trial blowing back against her in her November 2020 reelection bid , and McConnell is already nervous enough to cave to Collins .
If the Resistance keeps making certain GOP Senators like Collins nervous about their political futures , we ’ ll likely see more caving when it comes to things like witnesses .
We ’ re not going to get anything close to a fully fair trial .
And the Republican Senate is very likely going to acquit Donald Trump in the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible approval rating heading into 2020 , the only way this trial will be a “ win ” for him is if it ends up significantly boosting his approval rating .
If the trial proceedings end up being ugly enough for Trump that his approval rating stays the same or goes down , then this trial will be a bodyblow to Trump even if he is acquitted .
If GOP Senators get nervous enough that they allow a trial format that ’ s even a little bit ugly for Trump , then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Yesterday we pointed out that, for all his confident bluster, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was not in control of what was happening with Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Instead, the shots were being called by a handful of holdout Republican Senators who fear that a sham trial could prompt voters to harm their own personal political careers. Sure enough, we’re already seeing proof of that today.
Yesterday Mitch McConnell announced that he was going to give each side a total of 24 hours, spread over two days, to make their case. Combined with the noon-ish start time each day, this ensured that the proceedings would be running as late as midnight, making it difficult for the public to tune in and keep up. Palmer Report pointed out that this was merely yet another instance of McConnell announcing his fantasy as if it were fact, and hoping the media would report it as fact, thus discouraging the Resistance.
Sure enough, McConnell has “decided” today to change it from two days to three. This means roughly eight hours of presentations per day, meaning the proceedings will be wrapping up in prime time each day. McConnell has also “decided” to allow all evidence to be introduced by default, short of an objection. We’re putting the word “decided” in quotation marks because McConnell isn’t the one who made this decision. NBC News is reporting that Susan Collins pressured McConnell into the change.
Susan Collins deserves no credit for this, and she’s every bit as untrustworthy as Mitch McConnell. But this is nonetheless good news for the Resistance. It means that Collins is already nervous about a sham trial blowing back against her in her November 2020 reelection bid, and McConnell is already nervous enough to cave to Collins. If the Resistance keeps making certain GOP Senators like Collins nervous about their political futures, we’ll likely see more caving when it comes to things like witnesses.
We’re not going to get anything close to a fully fair trial. And the Republican Senate is very likely going to acquit Donald Trump in the end. But with Donald Trump’s terrible approval rating heading into 2020, the only way this trial will be a “win” for him is if it ends up significantly boosting his approval rating. If the trial proceedings end up being ugly enough for Trump that his approval rating stays the same or goes down, then this trial will be a bodyblow to Trump even if he is acquitted. If GOP Senators get nervous enough that they allow a trial format that’s even a little bit ugly for Trump, then the Resistance will have won the impeachment fight.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-21--Get with the program

Get with the program

It is January 21st , 2020 , as I write this , and recalling that this is a leap year , it means we have 366 days to see Donald Trump in handcuffs the day after the inauguration of a Democrat .
In the critical path of our fondest hope is the election .
I ’ m still hearing deeply disturbing rumblings from certain factions of the disconsolate Left , the consequence of which is that we may get Trump for another four years after all .
Some people are actually signing their names to the ridiculous proposition that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate then they are going to sabotage the election , either by not voting at all or voting for Trump .
I don ’ t know what to say to someone that monstrously stupid and evil .
Holding the life of the planet hostage because they can ’ t have their candidate elected and their policies enacted immediately is simply stupid and evil .
We are in a life and death struggle to save our planet from the anti-science ignorance of the Trump pirate ship , time is running out on our ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first they need to stick it to the Democratic National Committee , or stick it to the misogynists , or stick it to the corporate Democrats .
It is as if they were doctors insistent upon treating a stubbed toe first because the heart attack can wait .
It is a form of existential climate science denialism .
Anyone who does anything to help Donald Trump get reelected , either by deliberate action or inaction , is a climate science denialist .
It is existential suicide .
Trust me , if you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lookout .
But if you want to take me and my loved ones with you , I take that very personally , and so should anyone listening to the claptrap of these idiots .
Yeah , you can stick it to the DNC by destroying the planet .
That ’ ll really show ‘ em .
I remember dealing with the anti-Hillary claque in 2016 and hearing the exact same idiotic crap I ’ m hearing now .
At the time it was frustrating enough to listen to some fool who was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who didn ’ t have the chance of a tub of Ben & Jerry ’ s frozen yogurt in the netherworld .
At the time it was , as I say , merely frustrating .
Now it ’ s downright exasperating .
In 2016 I was certain Hillary was going to win .
Now I take nothing for granted , and neither should you .
There ’ s too much at stake .
Will Rogers once said , “ I am not a member of any organized political party .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1920s or 30s could still be a valid joke today in 2020 is to our own particular shame .
Perhaps the coming charade of an impeachment trial in the Senate will organize us in some form worth the name , I don ’ t know .
I hope so .
One thing is clear : a supermajority necessary to convict Donald Trump in the Senate is almost out of the question .
Expecting the mollusk Republicans to suddenly evolve into vertebrates is naive .
But I do expect fence-sitting Democrats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and the convention go ahead and vie for your candidate .
I have my own favorite too .
But once the decision is made , vote for her , or vote for him .
Your life and the lives of everyone important to you may hang in the balance .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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It is January 21st, 2020, as I write this, and recalling that this is a leap year, it means we have 366 days to see Donald Trump in handcuffs the day after the inauguration of a Democrat. In the critical path of our fondest hope is the election. I’m still hearing deeply disturbing rumblings from certain factions of the disconsolate Left, the consequence of which is that we may get Trump for another four years after all. Some people are actually signing their names to the ridiculous proposition that if they don’t get their particular candidate then they are going to sabotage the election, either by not voting at all or voting for Trump.
I don’t know what to say to someone that monstrously stupid and evil. Holding the life of the planet hostage because they can’t have their candidate elected and their policies enacted immediately is simply stupid and evil. We are in a life and death struggle to save our planet from the anti-science ignorance of the Trump pirate ship, time is running out on our ability to do anything, but no, first they need to stick it to the Democratic National Committee, or stick it to the misogynists, or stick it to the corporate Democrats. It is as if they were doctors insistent upon treating a stubbed toe first because the heart attack can wait.
It is a form of existential climate science denialism. Anyone who does anything to help Donald Trump get reelected, either by deliberate action or inaction, is a climate science denialist. It is existential suicide. Trust me, if you want to kill yourself that’s your lookout. But if you want to take me and my loved ones with you, I take that very personally, and so should anyone listening to the claptrap of these idiots. Yeah, you can stick it to the DNC by destroying the planet. That’ll really show ‘em.
I remember dealing with the anti-Hillary claque in 2016 and hearing the exact same idiotic crap I’m hearing now. At the time it was frustrating enough to listen to some fool who was going to vote for some third party candidate who didn’t have the chance of a tub of Ben & Jerry’s frozen yogurt in the netherworld. At the time it was, as I say, merely frustrating. Now it’s downright exasperating. In 2016 I was certain Hillary was going to win. Now I take nothing for granted, and neither should you. There’s too much at stake.
Will Rogers once said, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” That what Rogers said in the 1920s or 30s could still be a valid joke today in 2020 is to our own particular shame. Perhaps the coming charade of an impeachment trial in the Senate will organize us in some form worth the name, I don’t know. I hope so. One thing is clear: a supermajority necessary to convict Donald Trump in the Senate is almost out of the question. Expecting the mollusk Republicans to suddenly evolve into vertebrates is naive. But I do expect fence-sitting Democrats to evolve beyond 2016 come November. Between now and the convention go ahead and vie for your candidate. I have my own favorite too. But once the decision is made, vote for her, or vote for him. Your life and the lives of everyone important to you may hang in the balance.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.