palmerreport--2020-12-15--Mayor Pete Buttigieg for the win

Mayor Pete Buttigieg for the win

We ’ re going from corrupt do-nothing scumbag Elaine Chao , to fantastic rising star Pete Buttigieg , as Secretary of Transportation .
This is what progress looks like .
It ’ s a reminder that when you take the presidency away from a criminal and give it to someone honorable and capable , a whole lot of fundamental change happens across the board .
Why Buttigieg at Transportation ?
My guess is that he wanted an opportunity to gain experience on a federal government level , and this gives him the opportunity to shine by rolling out ambitious transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ re way behind when it comes to futuristic transportation such as bullet trains .
Pete has a real opportunity to turn things around , and set himself up for a presidential run in 2028 , or whatever his long term plans are .
Meanwhile , it ’ s worth pointing out that the early leaks about Rahm Emanuel having been “ in consideration ” for Secretary of Transportation were obviously wrong .
This continues a string in which essentially every “ in consideration ” leak about the Biden administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t trial balloons .
Biden can ’ t be changing his mind that many times , on every single appointment .
So all of these “ in consideration ” leaks must have been wrong all along .
It furthers my theory that when people leak their own name to try to get into consideration , the media wants to run with such leaks because they ’ re good for ratings , but it doesn ’ t want to look bad when it turns out to be wrong , so the media categorizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration .
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We’re going from corrupt do-nothing scumbag Elaine Chao, to fantastic rising star Pete Buttigieg, as Secretary of Transportation. This is what progress looks like. It’s a reminder that when you take the presidency away from a criminal and give it to someone honorable and capable, a whole lot of fundamental change happens across the board.
Why Buttigieg at Transportation? My guess is that he wanted an opportunity to gain experience on a federal government level, and this gives him the opportunity to shine by rolling out ambitious transportation reform projects. Our infrastructure is crumbling, and we’re way behind when it comes to futuristic transportation such as bullet trains. Pete has a real opportunity to turn things around, and set himself up for a presidential run in 2028, or whatever his long term plans are.
Meanwhile, it’s worth pointing out that the early leaks about Rahm Emanuel having been “in consideration” for Secretary of Transportation were obviously wrong. This continues a string in which essentially every “in consideration” leak about the Biden administration has turned out wrong. These aren’t trial balloons. Biden can’t be changing his mind that many times, on every single appointment. So all of these “in consideration” leaks must have been wrong all along.
It furthers my theory that when people leak their own name to try to get into consideration, the media wants to run with such leaks because they’re good for ratings, but it doesn’t want to look bad when it turns out to be wrong, so the media categorizes falsely leaked names as being “in consideration.”
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palmerreport--2020-12-15--Jim Acosta just destroyed Kayleigh McEnany

No one is quite sure why Kayleigh McEnany is still telling such absurd lies about the election , but at @ @ @ @ @ damaged herself so badly , she probably can ’ t even get a job with @ @ @ @ @ thing is over .
In any case , McEnany held a particularly dishonest and deranged @ @ @ @ @ CNN ’ s Jim Acosta took the opportunity to come down hard on her for @ @ @ @ @ video from our friends at The Recount : Kayleigh McEnany isn ’ t nearly as @ @ @ @ @ be .
So why is she humiliating herself like this ?
Is she aiming for @ @ @ @ @ after this , or has she merely gotten so sucked into her own vortex of @ @ @ @ @ totally lost touch with reality ?

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No one is quite sure why Kayleigh McEnany is still telling such absurd lies about the election, but at this point she’s damaged herself so badly, she probably can’t even get a job with Fox News after the Trump thing is over.
In any case, McEnany held a particularly dishonest and deranged press briefing today, and CNN’s Jim Acosta took the opportunity to come down hard on her for it. Check out this video from our friends at The Recount:
.@Acosta to Press Sec. McEnany: "Isn't it hypocritical for you to accuse others of disinformation when you spread it every day?" pic.twitter.com/g63offWhp1 — The Recount (@therecount) December 15, 2020
Kayleigh McEnany isn’t nearly as stupid as she pretends to be. So why is she humiliating herself like this? Is she aiming for a job at Trump TV after this, or has she merely gotten so sucked into her own vortex of lies that she’s totally lost touch with reality?
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Democracy is hard

One of the casualties of the slavering jaws of 2020 was the great Swedish actor of stage and film Max Von Sydow .
He pulls off a minor miracle in the role of Frederick in Woody Allen ’ s “ Hannah and her Sisters , ” when he observes of the common lament of the horrors of the Nazis , the “ puzzled intellectuals declaring their mystification of the systematic murder of millions .
The reason why they could never answer the question , ‘ How could it possibly happen ?
, ’ ” Frederick declares , “ is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given what people are the question is , ‘ Why doesn ’ t it happen more often ?
’ ” Even so , it wasn ’ t a rhetorical question when I was growing up .
Many sociologists and political philosophers , scratching their collective heads over the Nazi question , came to believe that there was something unique about that moment in history and the psychology of the German people , that it was a sui generis perfect storm of wicked social influences that could cause a society that brought us Beethoven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncharacteristically savage .
If not unique it was at least unusual .
And given the lesson of history that the Nazis taught us ( or should have taught us ) , it was commonly thought that it couldn ’ t happen again .
Or that it certainly couldn ’ t happen in America .
But in a way , Frederick was right .
It did happen again .
Donald Trump is no Hitler , of course , but he is part of the same sickness that brought us Hitler .
He is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-righteous innards of certain people at the thought of iron-fisted retribution for anyone who fails to see the world exactly the way they do .
That is why they speak so gleefully of guns and death penalties and long prison sentences .
The frustrations of little lives of quiet desperation sometimes find catharsis writ large in the politics of hate and revenge , and that savage catharsis too often goes too far .
People like Donald Trump exploit the human need to blame .
Hitler blamed the Jews , the communists , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woes , and he taught millions of Germans to blame them too .
After all , it ’ s easier and more gratifying to blame others for your problems than it is to blame yourself .
That ’ s why so much of Trump ’ s rhetoric is the rhetoric of blame .
We ’ re in the mess we ’ re in with coronavirus because of China .
Many of our economic problems are because of immigration .
Anything wrong today is because of the mess Trump inherited from Barack Obama .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cheating Democrats .
And so on .
It ’ s easier to find someone to invent blame and manufacture hate than it is to find ways to fix problems that we all , in the final analysis , are to blame for .
It ’ s an ego-saving excuse for failure , and nothing failed quite so spectacularly as the one-term mediocrity known as Donald Trump .
Trump was a lazy president who hated to do his job .
Because he hated the job he didn ’ t do it .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eating junk food to security briefings and reading memos and consulting with experts .
So that ’ s what he did .
The president of the United States has no boss to answer to .
He can pretty much do what he wants .
Ordinarily the people who occupy that office have a remarkable work ethic .
But there ’ s no remedy , Constitutional or otherwise , for presidents who are shiftless .
And so instead Trump blames .
And he leads millions of Americans , most of whom are either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of blame .
And that blame becomes anger which sometimes manifests itself in violence .
The violence can even be passive .
Failure to wear masks , failure to social distance , failure to wash hands , and before you know it more than 300,000 Americans are dead .
Indolence and ignorance can be every inch as genocidal as a Nazi gas chamber .
All of which is to say , Democracy is hard and Fascism is easy .
It should be no surprise to us that the line of least resistance has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst among us .
Trump appeals to the day-drunk at the end of the bar who knows all the solutions to all the world ’ s problems , and the people who think he just may be on to something .
But it takes guts and effort to unite disparate people in a common cause .
Trump failed because he ’ s a lazy coward .
Donald Trump is nothing more than a lazy man making excuses for his bad performance .
Trump lost because a majority of Americans were tired of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing is achieved by anyone who spends his days blaming others for the mess they are in .
Donald Trump is just a bad loser , and a bad loser is , in the final analysis , still just a loser .
We must remain hyper-vigilant against future Trumps .
The question of how a Trump could possibly happen is no longer rhetorical .
Another Trump will come along if we let him , or her .
We must stay alert to that danger , always .
Because Democracy is hard .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , brothers and sisters , comrades and friends , stay safe .

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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One of the casualties of the slavering jaws of 2020 was the great Swedish actor of stage and film Max Von Sydow. He pulls off a minor miracle in the role of Frederick in Woody Allen’s “Hannah and her Sisters,” when he observes of the common lament of the horrors of the Nazis, the “puzzled intellectuals declaring their mystification of the systematic murder of millions. The reason why they could never answer the question, ‘How could it possibly happen?,’” Frederick declares, “is that it’s the wrong question. Given what people are the question is, ‘Why doesn’t it happen more often?’”
Even so, it wasn’t a rhetorical question when I was growing up. Many sociologists and political philosophers, scratching their collective heads over the Nazi question, came to believe that there was something unique about that moment in history and the psychology of the German people, that it was a sui generis perfect storm of wicked social influences that could cause a society that brought us Beethoven, Goethe and Einstein to turn so uncharacteristically savage. If not unique it was at least unusual. And given the lesson of history that the Nazis taught us (or should have taught us), it was commonly thought that it couldn’t happen again. Or that it certainly couldn’t happen in America.
But in a way, Frederick was right. It did happen again. Donald Trump is no Hitler, of course, but he is part of the same sickness that brought us Hitler. He is part of the same disease that warms the self-righteous innards of certain people at the thought of iron-fisted retribution for anyone who fails to see the world exactly the way they do. That is why they speak so gleefully of guns and death penalties and long prison sentences. The frustrations of little lives of quiet desperation sometimes find catharsis writ large in the politics of hate and revenge, and that savage catharsis too often goes too far.
People like Donald Trump exploit the human need to blame. Hitler blamed the Jews, the communists, the “social degenerates” for common social woes, and he taught millions of Germans to blame them too. After all, it’s easier and more gratifying to blame others for your problems than it is to blame yourself.
That’s why so much of Trump’s rhetoric is the rhetoric of blame. We’re in the mess we’re in with coronavirus because of China. Many of our economic problems are because of immigration. Anything wrong today is because of the mess Trump inherited from Barack Obama. Trump lost the rigged election because of the cheating Democrats. And so on.
It’s easier to find someone to invent blame and manufacture hate than it is to find ways to fix problems that we all, in the final analysis, are to blame for. It’s an ego-saving excuse for failure, and nothing failed quite so spectacularly as the one-term mediocrity known as Donald Trump.
Trump was a lazy president who hated to do his job. Because he hated the job he didn’t do it. He preferred golf, tweeting, watching television and eating junk food to security briefings and reading memos and consulting with experts. So that’s what he did.
The president of the United States has no boss to answer to. He can pretty much do what he wants. Ordinarily the people who occupy that office have a remarkable work ethic. But there’s no remedy, Constitutional or otherwise, for presidents who are shiftless.
And so instead Trump blames. And he leads millions of Americans, most of whom are either stupid or corrupt, in a chorus of blame. And that blame becomes anger which sometimes manifests itself in violence. The violence can even be passive. Failure to wear masks, failure to social distance, failure to wash hands, and before you know it more than 300,000 Americans are dead. Indolence and ignorance can be every inch as genocidal as a Nazi gas chamber.
All of which is to say, Democracy is hard and Fascism is easy. It should be no surprise to us that the line of least resistance has been followed with such angry insistence by the worst among us. Trump appeals to the day-drunk at the end of the bar who knows all the solutions to all the world’s problems, and the people who think he just may be on to something. But it takes guts and effort to unite disparate people in a common cause. Trump failed because he’s a lazy coward.
Donald Trump is nothing more than a lazy man making excuses for his bad performance. Trump lost because a majority of Americans were tired of his excuses and tired of blame. Nothing is achieved by anyone who spends his days blaming others for the mess they are in. Donald Trump is just a bad loser, and a bad loser is, in the final analysis, still just a loser.
We must remain hyper-vigilant against future Trumps. The question of how a Trump could possibly happen is no longer rhetorical. Another Trump will come along if we let him, or her. We must stay alert to that danger, always. Because Democracy is hard. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
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--2020-12-15--Here’s the thing about these Russian hacks of U.S. government agencies

With everything else that ’ s going on right now , it ’ s easy to overlook the news that Russian hackers managed to penetrate multiple U.S. government agencies – but we shouldn ’ t overlook it .
Now that Putin has lost his puppet Trump , he appears to be reverting back to his previous methods of trying to sabotage us .
Here ’ s the thing , though .
It ’ s easy to say that , well , now that Trump has lost , Putin has decided to start hacking us .
It ’ s also easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert Chris Krebs and installed his own stooges at various agencies , perhaps it made us more vulnerable to attack .
But none of that fits the timeline .
The reporting about these cyber attacks reveals that they occurred several months ago , and they were apparently only discovered just recently .
So no , this Russian hacking isn ’ t in response to any recent developments .
Instead you have to ask yourself why Putin apparently decided to hack into our agencies back in the spring or summer .
It was clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very likely to lose the election , so perhaps Putin saw it too , and decided to shift gears back then .
Still , this was a major risk for Putin .
Now that he ’ s been caught , it lays the groundwork for the United States and its allies to hit Russia with the costliest of sanctions .
Putin is already on thin ice with his oligarchs because his antics and the resulting punishment have cost them too much money .
It ’ s gotten bad enough for Putin that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering resigning due to supposed health issues , in a seeming attempt at making sure the oligarchs don ’ t simply bump him off .
Now Putin will have to weather whatever President Biden and U.S. allies are about to do to him .
Putin had better hope that whatever intel he stole during the hacking was worth it to him , because it ’ s about to get ugly .

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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With everything else that’s going on right now, it’s easy to overlook the news that Russian hackers managed to penetrate multiple U.S. government agencies – but we shouldn’t overlook it. Now that Putin has lost his puppet Trump, he appears to be reverting back to his previous methods of trying to sabotage us. Here’s the thing, though.
It’s easy to say that, well, now that Trump has lost, Putin has decided to start hacking us. It’s also easy to say that because Trump fired cybersecurity expert Chris Krebs and installed his own stooges at various agencies, perhaps it made us more vulnerable to attack. But none of that fits the timeline.
The reporting about these cyber attacks reveals that they occurred several months ago, and they were apparently only discovered just recently. So no, this Russian hacking isn’t in response to any recent developments.
Instead you have to ask yourself why Putin apparently decided to hack into our agencies back in the spring or summer. It was clear to Palmer Report back then that Trump was very likely to lose the election, so perhaps Putin saw it too, and decided to shift gears back then.
Still, this was a major risk for Putin. Now that he’s been caught, it lays the groundwork for the United States and its allies to hit Russia with the costliest of sanctions. Putin is already on thin ice with his oligarchs because his antics and the resulting punishment have cost them too much money. It’s gotten bad enough for Putin that he keeps leaking that he’s considering resigning due to supposed health issues, in a seeming attempt at making sure the oligarchs don’t simply bump him off.
Now Putin will have to weather whatever President Biden and U.S. allies are about to do to him. Putin had better hope that whatever intel he stole during the hacking was worth it to him, because it’s about to get ugly.
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--2020-12-15--Donald Trump really is at the end of his rope

President-elect Joe Biden has won — again .
Republicans , however , continue to ignore the truth .
In Georgia , while Stacey Abrams presided over the official electoral vote , a group of Republicans were meeting one floor down and gave their imaginary 16 electoral votes to Donald Trump , claiming that the “ contest of the election is ongoing.
” Trump has been shut down in Georgia several times now with his frivolous lawsuits .
His most recent suit is against Fulton County .
Good luck to him with the judges on that bench .
Fulton County is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This suit was filed by David Shafer , chairman of Georgia ’ s Republican Party and the man who gathered fake electors to give their votes to Trump .
This suit was filed in criminal court and alleges that felons , underage voters , people registered in other states , and a slew of others caused the vote to go to Biden .
Where do they get this stuff ?
We should charge them in criminal court for being fraudulent electors since the real electorate voted upstairs and awarded their 16 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing is that Trump still thinks he has an opportunity to overturn the vote , or he wants us to believe that he thinks he does .
He has tossed Bill Barr from the building and is appointing someone in his place .
Dude , you need to go and help Melania pack , as you are in no position to be appointing anyone .
He has sat idly by while Coronavirus has killed over 300,000 people , and all he can worry about is himself .
This is nothing new for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and why 74 million people failed to see that and voted to keep him in office is unbelievable .
Worse , at least for their party , Republicans have destroyed any credibility they could have hoped to have .
Showing his sheer stupidity in filing his lawsuit , Shafer compared 2020 numbers to 2016 numbers , something upon which Trump has relied to claim he won Georgia .
It is four years later .
Is it not plausible that the demographics have changed in Georgia during that time such that a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in 28 years ?
It has been coming for some time , as indicated by Brian Kemp ’ s mere 1 % win over Stacey Abrams .
Georgia has kept us down for years with Republican gerrymandering , but it is getting to the point that it no longer matters .
Gwinnett County , for example , was a Republican stronghold .
With the introduction of Hispanics/Latinos and Blacks , the county is different .
Further , Gwinnett is now the second largest county next to Fulton County , totally quashing Shafer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when comparing those votes to 2016 .
Republicans are grasping at the thinnest straws in history to keep “ president ” Trump in office when all he has done is ruin their party .
In fact , Trump has ruined many things about our great country , including his goon supporters who vandalized two historic Black churches in D.C .
This behavior must stop , and President Biden , not “ president ” Trump , will be the one who returns things back to normal .

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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President-elect Joe Biden has won — again. Republicans, however, continue to ignore the truth. In Georgia, while Stacey Abrams presided over the official electoral vote, a group of Republicans were meeting one floor down and gave their imaginary 16 electoral votes to Donald Trump, claiming that the “contest of the election is ongoing.”
Trump has been shut down in Georgia several times now with his frivolous lawsuits. His most recent suit is against Fulton County. Good luck to him with the judges on that bench. Fulton County is likely the most liberal county in Georgia. This suit was filed by David Shafer, chairman of Georgia’s Republican Party and the man who gathered fake electors to give their votes to Trump. This suit was filed in criminal court and alleges that felons, underage voters, people registered in other states, and a slew of others caused the vote to go to Biden. Where do they get this stuff? We should charge them in criminal court for being fraudulent electors since the real electorate voted upstairs and awarded their 16 votes to President-elect Joe Biden.
The sad thing is that Trump still thinks he has an opportunity to overturn the vote, or he wants us to believe that he thinks he does. He has tossed Bill Barr from the building and is appointing someone in his place. Dude, you need to go and help Melania pack, as you are in no position to be appointing anyone. He has sat idly by while Coronavirus has killed over 300,000 people, and all he can worry about is himself. This is nothing new for Trump. He has always been for himself, and why 74 million people failed to see that and voted to keep him in office is unbelievable. Worse, at least for their party, Republicans have destroyed any credibility they could have hoped to have.
Showing his sheer stupidity in filing his lawsuit, Shafer compared 2020 numbers to 2016 numbers, something upon which Trump has relied to claim he won Georgia. It is four years later. Is it not plausible that the demographics have changed in Georgia during that time such that a Democratic president would win Georgia for the first time in 28 years? It has been coming for some time, as indicated by Brian Kemp’s mere 1% win over Stacey Abrams. Georgia has kept us down for years with Republican gerrymandering, but it is getting to the point that it no longer matters. Gwinnett County, for example, was a Republican stronghold. With the introduction of Hispanics/Latinos and Blacks, the county is different. Further, Gwinnett is now the second largest county next to Fulton County, totally quashing Shafer’s “illegal votes” claim when comparing those votes to 2016.
Republicans are grasping at the thinnest straws in history to keep “president” Trump in office when all he has done is ruin their party. In fact, Trump has ruined many things about our great country, including his goon supporters who vandalized two historic Black churches in D.C. This behavior must stop, and President Biden, not “president” Trump, will be the one who returns things back to normal.
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--2020-12-15--Lindsey Graham tries weird new pivot after Donald Trump loses Electoral College

We ’ ve already seen Lindsey Graham completely turn into a different person when he stopped latching onto the late John McCain and started latching onto Donald Trump instead .
We ’ ve been wondering what Graham would do once Trump was off the stage , and Graham needed to find a new way to remain relevant .
Interestingly enough , Lindsey Graham is now basically admitting tonight that Joe Biden won the election .
In fact Graham is even going so far as to voice support for multiple Biden cabinet picks , while also offering support for some ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being floated for Biden ’ s Attorney General .
So what ’ s happening here ?
This isn ’ t necessarily surprising .
Trump will be gone within weeks , and the Republican Party has no clear remaining leadership or direction at this point .
Yet Lindsey Graham is the kind of sucker fish who has to try to latch onto somebody in order to keep himself relevant .
Is Graham really looking at trying to latch onto President Biden ?
Even if so , Biden knows better than anyone that Graham can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as self centered as he is psychologically unstable .
And considering the felony election tampering that Graham just got caught committing , he belongs in prison , not in the Senate .
Come to think of it , perhaps Graham is now trying to buddy up to Biden in the mistaken belief that it ’ ll keep him from being criminally prosecuted .
In any case , Graham was always going to selfishly move on from Trump the minute Trump ’ s defeat was cemented .

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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We’ve already seen Lindsey Graham completely turn into a different person when he stopped latching onto the late John McCain and started latching onto Donald Trump instead. We’ve been wondering what Graham would do once Trump was off the stage, and Graham needed to find a new way to remain relevant.
Interestingly enough, Lindsey Graham is now basically admitting tonight that Joe Biden won the election. In fact Graham is even going so far as to voice support for multiple Biden cabinet picks, while also offering support for some (but not all) of the names being floated for Biden’s Attorney General. So what’s happening here?
This isn’t necessarily surprising. Trump will be gone within weeks, and the Republican Party has no clear remaining leadership or direction at this point. Yet Lindsey Graham is the kind of sucker fish who has to try to latch onto somebody in order to keep himself relevant. Is Graham really looking at trying to latch onto President Biden?
Even if so, Biden knows better than anyone that Graham can’t be trusted. Graham is as self centered as he is psychologically unstable. And considering the felony election tampering that Graham just got caught committing, he belongs in prison, not in the Senate. Come to think of it, perhaps Graham is now trying to buddy up to Biden in the mistaken belief that it’ll keep him from being criminally prosecuted. In any case, Graham was always going to selfishly move on from Trump the minute Trump’s defeat was cemented.
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--2020-12-16--Donald Trump suddenly has a huge Mar-a-Lago problem

Donald Trump ’ s prospects are quite bleak once he leaves office .
Creditor squeezes and asset forfeitures could cost him most of his properties .
Criminal charges could land him under house arrest while awaiting trial .
Trump seems to be trying to prepare for this ugly reality by putting a lot of his chips down on Mar-a-Lago .
Trump changed his official residence to Mar-a-Lago a year ago .
Since he lost the election he ’ s reportedly begun renovations there .
He seems intent on establishing some kind of homestead there , both so it doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so he can try to convince the judge in his inevitable New York criminal trial to give him house arrest in Florida .
But now there ’ s a problem with all of this .
Because Trump took tax breaks on Mar-a-Lago from the town of Palm Beach , it ’ s technically classified as a business , and not a residence .
Trump isn ’ t legally allowed to live there full-time .
In fact he arguably committed voter fraud when he listed Mar-a-Lago as his home address , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In any case , the Washington Post is reporting that Mar-a-Lago ’ s neighbors are up in arms about the prospect of Donald Trump using it as a full time residence , and because he ’ s not allowed to do that , they ’ re pushing the issue with the city .
Now that he ’ s no longer going to be president , the city is probably less likely to cower to him .
If Trump gets banned from residing at Mar-a-Lago , it could tank his entire strategy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are about to hit 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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Donald Trump’s prospects are quite bleak once he leaves office. Creditor squeezes and asset forfeitures could cost him most of his properties. Criminal charges could land him under house arrest while awaiting trial. Trump seems to be trying to prepare for this ugly reality by putting a lot of his chips down on Mar-a-Lago.
Trump changed his official residence to Mar-a-Lago a year ago. Since he lost the election he’s reportedly begun renovations there. He seems intent on establishing some kind of homestead there, both so it doesn’t end up being seized from him, and so he can try to convince the judge in his inevitable New York criminal trial to give him house arrest in Florida. But now there’s a problem with all of this.
Because Trump took tax breaks on Mar-a-Lago from the town of Palm Beach, it’s technically classified as a business, and not a residence. Trump isn’t legally allowed to live there full-time. In fact he arguably committed voter fraud when he listed Mar-a-Lago as his home address, because it’s not legally a residence.
In any case, the Washington Post is reporting that Mar-a-Lago’s neighbors are up in arms about the prospect of Donald Trump using it as a full time residence, and because he’s not allowed to do that, they’re pushing the issue with the city. Now that he’s no longer going to be president, the city is probably less likely to cower to him. If Trump gets banned from residing at Mar-a-Lago, it could tank his entire strategy for weathering the financial crisis and criminal charges that are about to hit 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.


The Trumptanic sinks

With the Electoral College confirming for the umpteenth time that Joe Biden will be President of the United States in less than six weeks , we are starting to see some GOP stalwarts and hardcore Cult 45 members abandoning this toxic sinking ship , the Trumptanic .
On Monday , Ed Whalen , a very conservative lawyer who was a strong advocate for Brett Kavanaugh and not a fan of Democrats , has tweeted that things are over : “ Lots of people are in denial about either of two things : 1 .
Trump lost .
2 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national popular vote , but in the pivotal states ) .
The Election Came Down to 42,918 Votes in Wisconsin , Arizona , and Georgia.
” In many ways , that tweet is not accurate , as Biden would have been at 269 electoral college votes without those three states , so only needed one of those states .
And Trump won by fewer votes than that in the key states in 2016 .
Biden in other contested states , such as Pennsylvania and Michigan , beat Trump by very wide margins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it clear Trump lost .
A second sign it is now over for real is that Senate Majority Leader ( for the next few weeks ) Mitch McConnell has recognized Joe Biden as President-Elect .
On Tuesday , the Con stated on the Senate floor : “ The electoral college has spoken .
Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.
” The rats are abandoning the Trumptanic , and the end of his criminal empire is afoot .

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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With the Electoral College confirming for the umpteenth time that Joe Biden will be President of the United States in less than six weeks, we are starting to see some GOP stalwarts and hardcore Cult 45 members abandoning this toxic sinking ship, the Trumptanic.
On Monday, Ed Whalen, a very conservative lawyer who was a strong advocate for Brett Kavanaugh and not a fan of Democrats, has tweeted that things are over:
“Lots of people are in denial about either of two things: 1. Trump lost. 2. The election was very close (not in the national popular vote, but in the pivotal states). The Election Came Down to 42,918 Votes in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia.”
In many ways, that tweet is not accurate, as Biden would have been at 269 electoral college votes without those three states, so only needed one of those states. And Trump won by fewer votes than that in the key states in 2016. Biden in other contested states, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, beat Trump by very wide margins. But nevertheless, Whalen has made it clear Trump lost.
A second sign it is now over for real is that Senate Majority Leader (for the next few weeks) Mitch McConnell has recognized Joe Biden as President-Elect. On Tuesday, the Con stated on the Senate floor: “The electoral college has spoken. Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.”
The rats are abandoning the Trumptanic, and the end of his criminal empire is afoot.
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--2020-12-16--Melania Trump isn’t even pretending anymore

Even after Donald Trump clearly lost the election last month , and CNN reported that Melania Trump was preparing to @ @ @ @ @ to Mar-a-Lago , she still went through the motions of pretending her husband still had @ @ @ @ @ For instance , she went with him to his ill-fated Senate runoff rally in Georgia @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College has finished Donald Trump off , Melania is no longer even pretending to @ @ @ @ @ instance , she visited a children ’ s hospital today , and promptly took her @ @ @ @ @ of the rules .
This is just embarrassing .
We look forward to a time @ @ @ @ @ Melania is now longer pretending to be First Lady , and we never have to @ @ @ @ @ – How thoroughly has the door slammed shut on Donald Trump ’ s life ?
@ @ @ @ @ acknowledging that Joe Biden won the election .
That ’ s right , even Putin @ @ @ @ @ failed Trump experiment and moved on to new post-Trump villainy .

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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Even after Donald Trump clearly lost the election last month, and CNN reported that Melania Trump was preparing to pack up and move back to Mar-a-Lago, she still went through the motions of pretending her husband still had some chance of winning. For instance, she went with him to his ill-fated Senate runoff rally in Georgia.
But now that the Electoral College has finished Donald Trump off, Melania is no longer even pretending to take things seriously. For instance, she visited a children’s hospital today, and promptly took her mask off, in violation of the rules. This is just embarrassing. We look forward to a time, very soon, where Melania is now longer pretending to be First Lady, and we never have to write about her again.
– How thoroughly has the door slammed shut on Donald Trump’s life? Even Vladimir Putin is now acknowledging that Joe Biden won the election. That’s right, even Putin has given up on the failed Trump experiment and moved on to new post-Trump villainy.
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--2020-12-17--New York Attorney General targets Donald Trump for his White House crimes

New York is continuing to close in on Donald Trump .
Last week the news broke that the Manhattan District Attorney is ramping up grand jury testimony against Donald Trump , which should result in criminal charges against him .
And yesterday a judge ruled that the separate New York Attorney General civil case against the Trump Organization can have access to financial documents .
Now New York Attorney General Tish James has a message for Trump : “ I wrote a letter to the White House today to remind the Trump administration that it must preserve and maintain all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of this information belongs to the American people , and this president and the White House can not deprive them of it.
” This is important on two levels .
First , it means that if anyone in the Trump administration tries destroying these documents , it ’ ll be tantamount to felony obstruction .
If James catches them in the act , she can use the threat of prison to try to force them to fully cooperate against Trump .
Second , this makes clear that New York State is indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes he committed as president ( and perhaps his kids ’ antics in the White House as well ) , or else the AG wouldn ’ t be targeting Trump ’ s White House records .
This means that New York is targeting Trump for a lot more than just his financial crimes back home .
And keep in mind that any evidence of criminality uncovered by the AG ’ s civil probe can ( and surely will ) be shared with the Manhattan District Attorney for use in his criminal case .

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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New York is continuing to close in on Donald Trump. Last week the news broke that the Manhattan District Attorney is ramping up grand jury testimony against Donald Trump, which should result in criminal charges against him. And yesterday a judge ruled that the separate New York Attorney General civil case against the Trump Organization can have access to financial documents.
Now New York Attorney General Tish James has a message for Trump: “I wrote a letter to the White House today to remind the Trump administration that it must preserve and maintain all presidential records. By law, every bit of this information belongs to the American people, and this president and the White House cannot deprive them of it.”
This is important on two levels. First, it means that if anyone in the Trump administration tries destroying these documents, it’ll be tantamount to felony obstruction. If James catches them in the act, she can use the threat of prison to try to force them to fully cooperate against Trump.
Second, this makes clear that New York State is indeed planning to go after Donald Trump for crimes he committed as president (and perhaps his kids’ antics in the White House as well), or else the AG wouldn’t be targeting Trump’s White House records. This means that New York is targeting Trump for a lot more than just his financial crimes back home. And keep in mind that any evidence of criminality uncovered by the AG’s civil probe can (and surely will) be shared with the Manhattan District Attorney for use in his criminal case.
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--2020-12-17--The real reason Donald Trump is talking about appointing a Special Counsel

When Donald Trump lost the election five weeks ago , Palmer Report predicted that everything he would do during his lame duck period would be an attempt at softening the blow when it comes to his prison and bankruptcy he ’ s facing when he gets out of office .
Sure enough , that pattern has held .
The pattern has been obvious enough .
Trump ’ s ongoing narrative about contesting the election has been all about raising money from his gullible supporters so he can pocket it , and use it to pay for his legal fees once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s also focused heavily on endgame pardons for himself and his people .
Now Trump is talking about appointing a new Special Counsel to investigate Hunter Biden on his way out the door .
On the surface this feels like spiteful self destruction on Trump ’ s part .
Why would he waste what little time and political muscle he has left on merely sticking it to the Biden family ?
But upon further examination it starts to look like an attempt at saving Trump ’ s own kids .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week suggests that the Manhattan DA grand jury could end up criminally indicting not just Trump , but also one or more of his kids .
This comes even as the New York Attorney General ’ s parallel civil probe has recently forced two of Trump ’ s kids to testify .
In other words , things are about to get very , very ugly for Trump ’ s kids .
If and when indictments come down against them in the coming weeks , Donald Trump – who still thinks this is all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or lost in the media – probably wants to be able to argue that his kids are only being targeted because Joe Biden ’ s kid is under investigation .
Nothing works this way in the legal system , of course .
If Donald Trump ’ s kids are provably guilty of something , New York will convict them , no matter what arguments he might make on Twitter .
Similarly , unless Hunter Biden has committed an actual crime , he ’ s not going to prison just because a Special Counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Attorney .
So this is likely all about optics .
Speaking of optics , it ’ s worth considering that whenever Trump leaks that he ’ s going to do something like this , he rarely ends up doing it .
If he thought he could get away with it , he ’ d just do it , and use the element of surprise in his favor .
When Trump starts leaking to the media that he might do something , it ’ s usually his way of trying to look strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t pull off .
So we ’ ll see , but there ’ s a good chance this Special Counsel thing won ’ t happen .

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 Donald Trump lost the election five weeks ago, Palmer Report predicted that everything he would do during his lame duck period would be an attempt at softening the blow when it comes to his prison and bankruptcy he’s facing when he gets out of office. Sure enough, that pattern has held.
The pattern has been obvious enough. Trump’s ongoing narrative about contesting the election has been all about raising money from his gullible supporters so he can pocket it, and use it to pay for his legal fees once he’s out of office. He’s also focused heavily on endgame pardons for himself and his people. Now Trump is talking about appointing a new Special Counsel to investigate Hunter Biden on his way out the door.
On the surface this feels like spiteful self destruction on Trump’s part. Why would he waste what little time and political muscle he has left on merely sticking it to the Biden family? But upon further examination it starts to look like an attempt at saving Trump’s own kids.
The news out of New York this past week suggests that the Manhattan DA grand jury could end up criminally indicting not just Trump, but also one or more of his kids. This comes even as the New York Attorney General’s parallel civil probe has recently forced two of Trump’s kids to testify.
In other words, things are about to get very, very ugly for Trump’s kids. If and when indictments come down against them in the coming weeks, Donald Trump – who still thinks this is all a reality show and can be won or lost in the media – probably wants to be able to argue that his kids are only being targeted because Joe Biden’s kid is under investigation.
Nothing works this way in the legal system, of course. If Donald Trump’s kids are provably guilty of something, New York will convict them, no matter what arguments he might make on Twitter. Similarly, unless Hunter Biden has committed an actual crime, he’s not going to prison just because a Special Counsel is investigating him instead of a regular U.S. Attorney.
So this is likely all about optics. Speaking of optics, it’s worth considering that whenever Trump leaks that he’s going to do something like this, he rarely ends up doing it. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d just do it, and use the element of surprise in his favor. When Trump starts leaking to the media that he might do something, it’s usually his way of trying to look strong on something that he knows he can’t pull off. So we’ll see, but there’s a good chance this Special Counsel thing won’t happen.
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--2020-12-16--Joe Biden is the antidote

Joe Biden is the antidote

Every time President-elect Biden speaks , it becomes more evident that he is exactly what this country needs .
Speaking at a “ get out the vote ” rally in Georgia , he got the crowd fired up , and he began immediately to get into why we need to win the Senate by supporting Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
Biden further revealed that both Perdue and Loeffler “ fully embraced nullifying nearly five million Georgia votes ” by supporting the Texas lawsuit , which was soundly rejected by the Supreme Court .
Biden told the crowd : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 5 ” and further said : “ Well , if you want to do the bidding of Texas , you should be running in Texas.
” His speech was filled with knockout punches like this .
Biden profusely thanked Stacey Abrams for all her hard work , saying that if we “ had 10 of you , we could rule the whole world .
God love you .
You do an incredible job , ” ending by calling Abrams a hero .
Biden also thanked Georgia for standing strong while our votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and counted .
I feel like I won Georgia three times , ” Biden joked .
He went on to separately describe each of the Senatorial candidates , linking Ossoff to John Lewis and talking about his immigrant past , and when he spoke of Warnock , he said , “ His story is your story , ” which is strikingly true .
How many of us grew up in housing projects with moms and dads working multiple jobs to make ends meet ?
I did .
In the case of Warnock , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had to work multiple jobs .
Warnock and Ossoff also have a great relationship , with Warnock referring to Ossoff as his “ brother from another mother.
” At the end of his speech , Biden spoke separately to each of them , telling them how much he is “ looking forward to working with you , Senator.
” It was a touching moment and gave us a glimpse into who Biden is and what he plans to do to make things right in our country .
Like President Obama , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” sincere , and genuine .
He was serious when he needed to be and downright funny at other times .
We desperately need a real person in the White House after four years of a whiny , self-absorbed , self-centered narcissist .
Where Biden hit things home the most , however , was during his speech following the Electoral College vote .
Seemingly speaking directly to Donald Trump , Biden said , “ In America , politicians don ’ t take power .
People grant power to them .
The flame of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not even a pandemic or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame.
” US News & World Report described Biden ’ s speech as a signal that he was “ running out of patience ” with Trump ’ s attempts to destroy democracy .
Biden showed that he is not going to put up with any of Trump ’ s foolishness in his drive to bring the country back together and our allies back to the table .
Biden is the antidote we need to the ills we have suffered under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Donald Trump .

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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Every time President-elect Biden speaks, it becomes more evident that he is exactly what this country needs. Speaking at a “get out the vote” rally in Georgia, he got the crowd fired up, and he began immediately to get into why we need to win the Senate by supporting Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Biden further revealed that both Perdue and Loeffler “fully embraced nullifying nearly five million Georgia votes” by supporting the Texas lawsuit, which was soundly rejected by the Supreme Court. Biden told the crowd: “You might want to remember that come January 5” and further said: “Well, if you want to do the bidding of Texas, you should be running in Texas.” His speech was filled with knockout punches like this.
Biden profusely thanked Stacey Abrams for all her hard work, saying that if we “had 10 of you, we could rule the whole world. God love you. You do an incredible job,” ending by calling Abrams a hero. Biden also thanked Georgia for standing strong while our votes “were counted, and counted, and counted. I feel like I won Georgia three times,” Biden joked. He went on to separately describe each of the Senatorial candidates, linking Ossoff to John Lewis and talking about his immigrant past, and when he spoke of Warnock, he said, “His story is your story,” which is strikingly true. How many of us grew up in housing projects with moms and dads working multiple jobs to make ends meet? I did. In the case of Warnock, his parents did something right even as they had to work multiple jobs.
Warnock and Ossoff also have a great relationship, with Warnock referring to Ossoff as his “brother from another mother.” At the end of his speech, Biden spoke separately to each of them, telling them how much he is “looking forward to working with you, Senator.” It was a touching moment and gave us a glimpse into who Biden is and what he plans to do to make things right in our country.
Like President Obama, Biden comes across as very “real,” sincere, and genuine. He was serious when he needed to be and downright funny at other times. We desperately need a real person in the White House after four years of a whiny, self-absorbed, self-centered narcissist. Where Biden hit things home the most, however, was during his speech following the Electoral College vote. Seemingly speaking directly to Donald Trump, Biden said, “In America, politicians don’t take power. People grant power to them. The flame of democracy burns bright, and nothing — not even a pandemic or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame.”
US News & World Report described Biden’s speech as a signal that he was “running out of patience” with Trump’s attempts to destroy democracy. Biden showed that he is not going to put up with any of Trump’s foolishness in his drive to bring the country back together and our allies back to the table. Biden is the antidote we need to the ills we have suffered under four years of mismanagement at the hands of Donald Trump.
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--2020-12-16--Republicans have a real problem in the Georgia runoffs

With Joe Biden officially declared the president-elect following the Electoral College vote , the nation ’ s full attention is fixated on the Georgia Senate races , where early voter turnout is already exceeding expectations .
This is a big reason to be optimistic about the elections that pit Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock against Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
Now , a new poll is showing even better news for the Democratic candidates , and a whole new reason for Republicans to be concerned .
For some time , pundits began to suspect that Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might negatively impact the GOP down the ballot , but there hasn ’ t been much evidence to support that .
Trump did go down to Georgia and campaign on behalf of both candidates last week after he repeatedly slammed the state ’ s governor , secretary of state and even the entire Republican Party because they wouldn ’ t magically grant him re-election , and a record number of people in Georgia requested ballots .
However , there ’ s a few reasons to be optimistic : First of all , Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and candidates he stumped for in 2017 , 2018 and 2019 underperformed in their elections .
Even his primary picks didn ’ t always do too great .
Second , polls have predicted a surge in the demographics that won Georgia for Biden , and now a new poll is revealing something that ’ s sure to make the GOP even more anxious .
The poll reveals nearly 20 % of Republican voters and Trump voters who reported they were “ less likely ” to vote after the 2020 election , compared against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the same .
This could suggest that the division within the party is having a negative effect on the election that Loeffler and Perdue were probably not hoping for .
This certainly doesn ’ t mean we get complacent – but it ’ s yet another reason to reach out to more voters – phone banking , driving up registration – and seize the momentum while it ’ s on our side .
If we can elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to the Senate , we can finally bring down Mitch @ @

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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With Joe Biden officially declared the president-elect following the Electoral College vote, the nation’s full attention is fixated on the Georgia Senate races, where early voter turnout is already exceeding expectations. This is a big reason to be optimistic about the elections that pit Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock against Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Now, a new poll is showing even better news for the Democratic candidates, and a whole new reason for Republicans to be concerned.
For some time, pundits began to suspect that Trump’s baseless claims about a stolen election might negatively impact the GOP down the ballot, but there hasn’t been much evidence to support that. Trump did go down to Georgia and campaign on behalf of both candidates last week after he repeatedly slammed the state’s governor, secretary of state and even the entire Republican Party because they wouldn’t magically grant him re-election, and a record number of people in Georgia requested ballots.
However, there’s a few reasons to be optimistic: First of all, Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot and candidates he stumped for in 2017, 2018 and 2019 underperformed in their elections. Even his primary picks didn’t always do too great. Second, polls have predicted a surge in the demographics that won Georgia for Biden, and now a new poll is revealing something that’s sure to make the GOP even more anxious.
The poll reveals nearly 20% of Republican voters and Trump voters who reported they were “less likely” to vote after the 2020 election, compared against only 5% of Biden voters who said the same. This could suggest that the division within the party is having a negative effect on the election that Loeffler and Perdue were probably not hoping for. This certainly doesn’t mean we get complacent – but it’s yet another reason to reach out to more voters – phone banking, driving up registration – and seize the momentum while it’s on our side. If we can elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to the Senate, we can finally bring down Mitch 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.


palmerreport--2020-12-16--The end of a petty dictator

The end of a petty dictator

The 9/11 Commission Report found that one factor in America ’ s vulnerability in the run up to the attacks of September 11 , 2001 , was “ the new [ George W. Bush ] administration did not have its deputy cabinet administration officers in place until the spring of 2001.
” Say what you will about the fairness or unfairness of the 2000 presidential election , unlike our most recent election , that one really was close .
The resulting bona fide procedural delay in deciding who was going to be the next president meant delays in cabinet confirmations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans vulnerable to attack .
This is an example from history where America really was placed in a clear and present danger from procedural delays .
And the attack came .
So when a procedural delay is unnecessary , when it ’ s promoted strictly to protect the ego of the worst bad loser in American history , it is a double disgrace .
Americans can ill afford to be placed in further harm ’ s way .
Consider that in the 24 hours since last I wrote to you , brothers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
That ’ s 49 more than died on September 11th , 2001 .
America has , in short , enough horror and tragedy thanks to Donald Trump already .
She certainly doesn ’ t need any more .
Yet still this madman persists in his psychotic indifference to the potential harm Americans face at the mercy of his indifferent , tiny hands .
“ It would not be an exaggeration to say that Donald Trump delights in putting people in danger , ” says psychiatrist Brandy X. Lee .
Lee attributes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sociopathy is dangerous , ” Lee explains , “ in part because … it actively desires people to suffer and die.
” So to the last Donald Trump remains entirely in character .
Selfish to the last , indifferent to the pain and suffering and death of his fellow Americans to the last .
He even delights in the death and suffering he causes .
And Trump is ever ready and willing to continue to let Americans die as sacrificial lambs on the altar of his unquenchable ego .
As long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abstract , many Republicans are ready and willing to continue to support the rantings of Trump the madman .
What would it take to change their minds ?
If somehow we could arrange it so that the victims of the next Trump-induced tragedy would be their children , the next deaths would be their deaths .
Only then would these monstrous enablers act , and act swiftly .
Like their lord and master , many Congressional Republicans lack the critical human faculty known as empathy .
In a scant five weeks we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words of terminally ill Washington State elector Jack Arends , “ Today was the chance to begin the end of the Trump administration .
I was glad to do my duty and rid our nation of a petty dictator .
Had he won a second term , there is no limit to the damage he could have done to the world.
” There are a million reasons why Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States , this has been another one .
And , as ever , ladies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comrades and friends , stay safe .

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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The 9/11 Commission Report found that one factor in America’s vulnerability in the run up to the attacks of September 11, 2001, was “the new [George W. Bush] administration did not have its deputy cabinet administration officers in place until the spring of 2001.” Say what you will about the fairness or unfairness of the 2000 presidential election, unlike our most recent election, that one really was close. The resulting bona fide procedural delay in deciding who was going to be the next president meant delays in cabinet confirmations. And delays in cabinet confirmations left Americans vulnerable to attack.
This is an example from history where America really was placed in a clear and present danger from procedural delays. And the attack came. So when a procedural delay is unnecessary, when it’s promoted strictly to protect the ego of the worst bad loser in American history, it is a double disgrace.
Americans can ill afford to be placed in further harm’s way. Consider that in the 24 hours since last I wrote to you, brothers and sisters, 3,026 Americans have died from COVID-19. That’s 49 more than died on September 11th, 2001. America has, in short, enough horror and tragedy thanks to Donald Trump already. She certainly doesn’t need any more.
Yet still this madman persists in his psychotic indifference to the potential harm Americans face at the mercy of his indifferent, tiny hands. “It would not be an exaggeration to say that Donald Trump delights in putting people in danger,” says psychiatrist Brandy X. Lee. Lee attributes Trump’s monstrous impulses to sociopathy. “Sociopathy is dangerous,” Lee explains, “in part because … it actively desires people to suffer and die.”
So to the last Donald Trump remains entirely in character. Selfish to the last, indifferent to the pain and suffering and death of his fellow Americans to the last. He even delights in the death and suffering he causes. And Trump is ever ready and willing to continue to let Americans die as sacrificial lambs on the altar of his unquenchable ego.
As long as these tragedies remain statistically and theoretically abstract, many Republicans are ready and willing to continue to support the rantings of Trump the madman. What would it take to change their minds? If somehow we could arrange it so that the victims of the next Trump-induced tragedy would be their children, the next deaths would be their deaths. Only then would these monstrous enablers act, and act swiftly. Like their lord and master, many Congressional Republicans lack the critical human faculty known as empathy.
In a scant five weeks we will be rid of this monster. In the words of terminally ill Washington State elector Jack Arends, “Today was the chance to begin the end of the Trump administration. I was glad to do my duty and rid our nation of a petty dictator. Had he won a second term, there is no limit to the damage he could have done to the world.”
There are a million reasons why Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States, this has been another one. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
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--2020-12-16--Great news in the Georgia runoffs

Great news in the Georgia runoffs

Runoff elections are always tricky to forecast .
There ’ s no presidential election , and in fact nothing else on the ballot , to naturally drive turnout .
So it ends up being a matter of which side wants it more , and which side can figure out how to generate turnout .
But this isn ’ t just any runoff election .
Forces have aligned such that the Georgia runoffs will determine control of the Senate , and thus will define the trajectory of the incoming Biden presidency .
This comes even as a defeated Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and failing to overthrow the presidential election , even as Trump ’ s allies keep urging people not to bother voting in the runoffs at all .
So it ’ s a big deal that on the first day of early in-person voting in the Georgia runoffs , turnout was higher than it was on the first day of early in-person voting in Georgia in the presidential election .
That ’ s right , there ’ s apparently even more interest in these runoff races to neuter the Republican Party , than there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is great news for the Democrats , but of course this is just day one .
Runoff elections always end up being tricky to win , one way or the other .
But it seems clear that Georgia Democrats are intent on trying to win this .
You can help out by donating to Democratic Party candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff 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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Runoff elections are always tricky to forecast. There’s no presidential election, and in fact nothing else on the ballot, to naturally drive turnout. So it ends up being a matter of which side wants it more, and which side can figure out how to generate turnout.
But this isn’t just any runoff election. Forces have aligned such that the Georgia runoffs will determine control of the Senate, and thus will define the trajectory of the incoming Biden presidency. This comes even as a defeated Donald Trump and his Republican Party have been seditiously trying and failing to overthrow the presidential election, even as Trump’s allies keep urging people not to bother voting in the runoffs at all.
So it’s a big deal that on the first day of early in-person voting in the Georgia runoffs, turnout was higher than it was on the first day of early in-person voting in Georgia in the presidential election. That’s right, there’s apparently even more interest in these runoff races to neuter the Republican Party, than there was in voting Trump out.
This is great news for the Democrats, but of course this is just day one. Runoff elections always end up being tricky to win, one way or the other. But it seems clear that Georgia Democrats are intent on trying to win this. You can help out by donating to Democratic Party candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff 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--2020-12-16--Mike Pompeo enters coronavirus quarantine

In the final days of his failed presidency , Donald Trump is running out of henchmen .
Attorney General Bill Barr resigned and/or was fired on Monday .
Now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been forced to enter quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus .
Pompeo had been planning to hold a 900 person Christmas party , a dangerously deranged idea in a pandemic .
It turned out almost no one RSVP ’ d for the party , and Pompeo ended up skipping it himself , presumably to avoid the embarrassment of hosting a party and having no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t prevent Pompeo from being exposed to coronavirus somewhere along the way , and the Washington Post says he ’ s now quarantining .
Pompeo has tested negative thus far .
But it ’ s commonplace for infected people to test negative until they start showing symptoms , which could take five to fourteen days , before finally testing positive .
Even if Pompeo continues to test negative , he ’ ll be out of the game for several days while under quarantine – and this comes at a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left .

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In the final days of his failed presidency, Donald Trump is running out of henchmen. Attorney General Bill Barr resigned and/or was fired on Monday. Now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been forced to enter quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus.
Pompeo had been planning to hold a 900 person Christmas party, a dangerously deranged idea in a pandemic. It turned out almost no one RSVP’d for the party, and Pompeo ended up skipping it himself, presumably to avoid the embarrassment of hosting a party and having no one show up. But even that apparently didn’t prevent Pompeo from being exposed to coronavirus somewhere along the way, and the Washington Post says he’s now quarantining.
Pompeo has tested negative thus far. But it’s commonplace for infected people to test negative until they start showing symptoms, which could take five to fourteen days, before finally testing positive. Even if Pompeo continues to test negative, he’ll be out of the game for several days while under quarantine – and this comes at a time when Trump and Pompeo only have 35 days left.
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palmerreport--2020-12-16--The walls cave in

The walls cave in

Just how poorly are things going for the Republican Party right now ?
On Tuesday , Donald Trump posted a retweet calling for Georgia ’ s Republican Governor Brian Kemp to be put in prison .
Trump can ’ t actually do that , but it demonstrates the extent to which he ’ s turning Republicans against each other on his way out .
This is a particular problem for the GOP in Georgia , with voting now underway in the crucial Senate runoffs .
Speaking of the walls caving in , Republican Senate Homeland Security Chair and professional idiot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday to support lunatic conspiracy theories about how Donald Trump somehow secretly won the election .
Johnson has botched the whole thing so badly , Senate Democrats now have Chris Krebs testifying at Johnson ’ s hearings .
Krebs is the election security expert that Trump fired in retaliation last month .
In other words , this hearing – which was supposed to create positive publicity for Trump – will end up creating even more negative publicity for him .
– Tweet of the day , from Joe Biden ’ s Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a moment of tremendous opportunity—to create jobs , meet the climate challenge , and enhance equity for all .
I ’ m honored that the President-elect has asked me to serve our nation as Secretary of Transportation … Innovation in transportation helped build my hometown , and it propels our country .
Now is the time to build back better through modern and sustainable infrastructure that creates millions of good-paying union jobs , revitalizes communities , and empowers all Americans to thrive .
”

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Just how poorly are things going for the Republican Party right now? On Tuesday, Donald Trump posted a retweet calling for Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp to be put in prison. Trump can’t actually do that, but it demonstrates the extent to which he’s turning Republicans against each other on his way out. This is a particular problem for the GOP in Georgia, with voting now underway in the crucial Senate runoffs.
Speaking of the walls caving in, Republican Senate Homeland Security Chair and professional idiot Ron Johnson decided to hold a hearing on Wednesday to support lunatic conspiracy theories about how Donald Trump somehow secretly won the election. Johnson has botched the whole thing so badly, Senate Democrats now have Chris Krebs testifying at Johnson’s hearings. Krebs is the election security expert that Trump fired in retaliation last month. In other words, this hearing – which was supposed to create positive publicity for Trump – will end up creating even more negative publicity for him.
– Tweet of the day, from Joe Biden’s Secretary of Transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg: “This is a moment of tremendous opportunity—to create jobs, meet the climate challenge, and enhance equity for all. I’m honored that the President-elect has asked me to serve our nation as Secretary of Transportation … Innovation in transportation helped build my hometown, and it propels our country. Now is the time to build back better through modern and sustainable infrastructure that creates millions of good-paying union jobs, revitalizes communities, and empowers all Americans to thrive.”
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palmerreport--2020-12-17--Coronavirus hits Donald Trump’s cabinet

Coronavirus hits Donald Trump’s cabinet

With just 35 days left until it ’ s officially dissolved , Donald Trump ’ s cabinet is already falling to pieces .
Attorney General Bill Barr just resigned and/or was fired .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in quarantine after having been exposed to coronavirus .
And now Trump ’ s Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has tested positive for coronavirus .
What ’ s more , the Washington Post is reporting that Bernhardt was preparing to attend a cabinet meeting with Trump on Wednesday , but sat it out after a last minute test result confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if the test result had been faulty , which happens sometimes , he would have infected the entire Trump cabinet .
It ’ s not yet clear if David Bernhardt ’ s confirmed coronavirus case has anything to do with why Mike Pompeo is now quarantining for coronavirus .
But Bernhardt did spend the past two days “ in meetings with political appointees , ” meaning he ’ s surely infected a lot of people in the Trump administration unless he was wearing a mask .
This comes after Ben Carson was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered .

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With just 35 days left until it’s officially dissolved, Donald Trump’s cabinet is already falling to pieces. Attorney General Bill Barr just resigned and/or was fired. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in quarantine after having been exposed to coronavirus. And now Trump’s Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has tested positive for coronavirus.
What’s more, the Washington Post is reporting that Bernhardt was preparing to attend a cabinet meeting with Trump on Wednesday, but sat it out after a last minute test result confirmed he was positive. In other words, if the test result had been faulty, which happens sometimes, he would have infected the entire Trump cabinet.
It’s not yet clear if David Bernhardt’s confirmed coronavirus case has anything to do with why Mike Pompeo is now quarantining for coronavirus. But Bernhardt did spend the past two days “in meetings with political appointees,” meaning he’s surely infected a lot of people in the Trump administration unless he was wearing a mask. This comes after Ben Carson was very ill with coronavirus last month but recovered.
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palmerreport--2020-12-17--Doug Jones as President Biden’s Attorney General?

I don ’ t trust leaks ( at all ) about who ’ s “ in consideration ” for cabinet positions .
These kinds of leaks have a terrible track record for accuracy .
So I don ’ t place any value on tonight ’ s leak about President Biden having narrowed his Attorney General choice down to Judge Merrick Garland or Senator Doug Jones .
But it ’ s nonetheless intriguing .
To be clear , Biden doesn ’ t even have the option of picking Garland unless we win the Georgia Senate runoffs , or else the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s very crucial current position on the federal bench .
Doug Jones as Attorney General seems to make more sense .
He was aggressive and fearless as a prosecutor , which is what we need at the DOJ right now .
He has a sterling reputation , and personal relationships with the Republican Senators he just got done serving with , which could help him get confirmed whether we win the runoffs or not .
It also wouldn ’ t cost us a Senate seat , because Jones lost his reelection bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat , he has no real history of facing off directly with Trump in a one-on-one battle .
That ’ ll help when Jones ends up bringing federal criminal charges against Trump and/or his lackeys .
It won ’ t be seen as a nakedly partisan move , as would be the case if Biden picked an AG like Sally Yates or Adam Schiff , who has taken on Trump directly .

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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I don’t trust leaks (at all) about who’s “in consideration” for cabinet positions. These kinds of leaks have a terrible track record for accuracy. So I don’t place any value on tonight’s leak about President Biden having narrowed his Attorney General choice down to Judge Merrick Garland or Senator Doug Jones. But it’s nonetheless intriguing.
To be clear, Biden doesn’t even have the option of picking Garland unless we win the Georgia Senate runoffs, or else the Republican Senate would never let Biden replace Garland’s very crucial current position on the federal bench.
Doug Jones as Attorney General seems to make more sense. He was aggressive and fearless as a prosecutor, which is what we need at the DOJ right now. He has a sterling reputation, and personal relationships with the Republican Senators he just got done serving with, which could help him get confirmed whether we win the runoffs or not. It also wouldn’t cost us a Senate seat, because Jones lost his reelection bid in Alabama.
While Jones is clearly a Democrat, he has no real history of facing off directly with Trump in a one-on-one battle. That’ll help when Jones ends up bringing federal criminal charges against Trump and/or his lackeys. It won’t be seen as a nakedly partisan move, as would be the case if Biden picked an AG like Sally Yates or Adam Schiff, who has taken on Trump directly.
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palmerreport--2020-12-17--Something doesn’t add up with Republican Senator Ron Johnson

Republican Senator Ron Johnson held a hearing today to push phony conspiracy theories about the election somehow having been rigged @ @ @ @ @ comes even after Mitch McConnell told Republican Senators to move on from the topic .
@ @ @ @ @ anti-Trump crusader Lev Parnas brought up a good point on Twitter : “ Isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ Ron Johnson claims to not receive Russian disinformation the person who gave it to him @ @ @ @ @ and showing his support for the Senator .
Something just doesn ’ t add up @ @ @ @ @ regularly bathed himself in Kremlin propaganda this year , to the point that the DOJ @ @ @ @ @ he might have with the Kremlin .
Something doesn ’ t add up here .

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Republican Senator Ron Johnson held a hearing today to push phony conspiracy theories about the election somehow having been rigged against Donald Trump. This comes even after Mitch McConnell told Republican Senators to move on from the topic.
Former Trump-Giuliani associate and current anti-Trump crusader Lev Parnas brought up a good point on Twitter: “Isn’t it funny how when Ron Johnson claims to not receive Russian disinformation the person who gave it to him, Telizhenko, is retweeting and showing his support for the Senator. Something just doesn’t add up here.”
Ron Johnson has regularly bathed himself in Kremlin propaganda this year, to the point that the DOJ should be investigating what ties he might have with the Kremlin. Something doesn’t add up here.
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palmerreport--2020-12-17--Are we really about to see the Secret Service physically remove Donald Trump from the White House?

Donald Trump has always been a guy who pushes buttons to see what gains he can get out of it .
So it wasn ’ t a surprise that after he lost , he kept pushing the narrative that he secretly won , so his supporters would keep lining his pockets .
But now even the likes of McConnell and Putin are admitting Trump lost , so he has to move on to his next round of button pushing .
Major media outlets are reporting tonight that Trump is privately threatening to simply refuse to leave the White House when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you all along that he might make this threat .
I also pointed out that if he does , the Secret Service would drag him out immediately – and that Trump knows this , so he wouldn ’ t actually try it .
Instead Trump is bluffing , which is what con artists like him do .
He ’ s hoping he can scare someone , somewhere into giving him some kind of leniency in exchange for leaving quietly .
That ’ s not how anything works , of course .
Neither the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give Trump immunity in exchange for leaving office .
Trump simply doesn ’ t have that kind of leverage , especially now that McConnell has moved on from him .
But Trump has to try the bluff anyway , because he ’ s running out of things to try .
Once Trump is indicted in New York , he ’ ll surely try to convince the judge to let him have house arrest at Mar-a-Lago instead of pre-trial imprisonment .
Trump knows that if he has to be physically removed from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decrease the odds that the judge will let him have house arrest .
So unless he ’ s completely lost what was left of his marbles , Trump isn ’ t actually going to have himself physically dragged from the White House .
Much as many of us would like to watch that happen , it ’ s just a bluff to see if he can get any considerations in return .
Palmer Report warned you a long time ago that Trump would make this threat , and that he would be bluffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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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Donald Trump has always been a guy who pushes buttons to see what gains he can get out of it. So it wasn’t a surprise that after he lost, he kept pushing the narrative that he secretly won, so his supporters would keep lining his pockets. But now even the likes of McConnell and Putin are admitting Trump lost, so he has to move on to his next round of button pushing.
Major media outlets are reporting tonight that Trump is privately threatening to simply refuse to leave the White House when his term is up. I warned you all along that he might make this threat. I also pointed out that if he does, the Secret Service would drag him out immediately – and that Trump knows this, so he wouldn’t actually try it.
Instead Trump is bluffing, which is what con artists like him do. He’s hoping he can scare someone, somewhere into giving him some kind of leniency in exchange for leaving quietly.
That’s not how anything works, of course. Neither the DOJ nor New York State is going to give Trump immunity in exchange for leaving office. Trump simply doesn’t have that kind of leverage, especially now that McConnell has moved on from him. But Trump has to try the bluff anyway, because he’s running out of things to try.
Once Trump is indicted in New York, he’ll surely try to convince the judge to let him have house arrest at Mar-a-Lago instead of pre-trial imprisonment. Trump knows that if he has to be physically removed from the White House, it’ll just decrease the odds that the judge will let him have house arrest.
So unless he’s completely lost what was left of his marbles, Trump isn’t actually going to have himself physically dragged from the White House. Much as many of us would like to watch that happen, it’s just a bluff to see if he can get any considerations in return. Palmer Report warned you a long time ago that Trump would make this threat, and that he would be bluffing. Nothing has changed about it now.
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palmerreport--2020-12-17--Donald Trump’s new pardon scheme reveals he’s even more desperate than we knew

Pardons aren ’ t magic wands .
And when you start pardoning your own alleged co-conspirators , it becomes even trickier .
For instance , if Michael Flynn faces no more criminal jeopardy as a result of his pardon , then he won ’ t be able to invoke the Fifth Amendment , and Flynn will end up being required to testify in any criminal investigation into Trump .
Trump may be counting on Flynn simply lying to investigators ( again ) , but Trump can ’ t count on that working across the board .
For instance , CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preemptively pardoning longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg .
This would open up a can of worms for Trump .
For starters , the pardon could be thrown out in court , on the grounds that Trump is pardoning Weisselberg specifically to keep him quiet about crimes that they committed together , which would be felony obstruction of justice on Trump ’ s part .
But even if the federal pardon holds up , New York State can still criminally charge Weisselberg , in an attempt at getting him to flip on Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal pardon , then by legal definition he ’ ll be admitting his guilt in those crimes .
That in turn could make it easier for New York to make state charges stick against Weisselberg , which could end up forcing him to cut a deal against Trump .
In other words , this could all go sideways for Trump pretty quickly .
It ’ s the latest reminder that preemptively pardoning his co-conspirators isn ’ t necessarily the best idea for Donald Trump to try .
It ’ s just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For every pardon that works out in his favor , there will be one that backfires on him .
The fact that Trump is even considering pardoning people like Allen Weisselberg , with all that could go wrong with that , reveals just how desperate Trump is .

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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Pardons aren’t magic wands. And when you start pardoning your own alleged co-conspirators, it becomes even trickier. For instance, if Michael Flynn faces no more criminal jeopardy as a result of his pardon, then he won’t be able to invoke the Fifth Amendment, and Flynn will end up being required to testify in any criminal investigation into Trump.
Trump may be counting on Flynn simply lying to investigators (again), but Trump can’t count on that working across the board. For instance, CNN is now reporting that Trump is considering preemptively pardoning longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. This would open up a can of worms for Trump.
For starters, the pardon could be thrown out in court, on the grounds that Trump is pardoning Weisselberg specifically to keep him quiet about crimes that they committed together, which would be felony obstruction of justice on Trump’s part. But even if the federal pardon holds up, New York State can still criminally charge Weisselberg, in an attempt at getting him to flip on Trump.
In fact, if Weisselberg accepts a federal pardon, then by legal definition he’ll be admitting his guilt in those crimes. That in turn could make it easier for New York to make state charges stick against Weisselberg, which could end up forcing him to cut a deal against Trump. In other words, this could all go sideways for Trump pretty quickly.
It’s the latest reminder that preemptively pardoning his co-conspirators isn’t necessarily the best idea for Donald Trump to try. It’s just the only thing he has left to try. For every pardon that works out in his favor, there will be one that backfires on him. The fact that Trump is even considering pardoning people like Allen Weisselberg, with all that could go wrong with that, reveals just how desperate Trump is.
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palmerreport--2020-12-18--What was Putin thinking?

What was Putin thinking?

Vladimir Putin hacked us in March , right around the time it became clear that Biden would be the nominee .
In other words , Putin knew Trump would lose , and wanted to get what he could while he could .
But now that Putin has been caught , he ’ s about to get obliterated by financial sanctions .
Putin ’ s plan was pretty clearly based on not getting caught – both so he could continue to spy on our agencies in the Biden era , and also so he wouldn ’ t get punished for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway .
It ’ s the latest reminder that no one in politics has magic powers .
Maybe Putin got so much out of these hacks , it ’ s worth more to him than the billions of dollars that he and his oligarchs are about to lose .
But Putin needs the support of the oligarchs to remain in power .
If they get tired of his backfiring antics , he ’ s done – and maybe dead .
Keep in mind that as these were secret hacks that no one was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin clearly was ’ t expecting to get caught .
So while a lot of damage was certainly done to us , Putin didn ’ t necessarily “ win.
” He ’ d have won if he never got caught .

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Vladimir Putin hacked us in March, right around the time it became clear that Biden would be the nominee. In other words, Putin knew Trump would lose, and wanted to get what he could while he could. But now that Putin has been caught, he’s about to get obliterated by financial sanctions.
Putin’s plan was pretty clearly based on not getting caught – both so he could continue to spy on our agencies in the Biden era, and also so he wouldn’t get punished for it by Biden. Yet Putin got caught anyway. It’s the latest reminder that no one in politics has magic powers.
Maybe Putin got so much out of these hacks, it’s worth more to him than the billions of dollars that he and his oligarchs are about to lose. But Putin needs the support of the oligarchs to remain in power. If they get tired of his backfiring antics, he’s done – and maybe dead.
Keep in mind that as these were secret hacks that no one was ever supposed to catch on to, Putin clearly was’t expecting to get caught. So while a lot of damage was certainly done to us, Putin didn’t necessarily “win.” He’d have won if he never got caught.
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.