thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-05--Joe Biden is impeachment's greatest casualty

Impeachment served as an atomic bomb that left pretty much everyone involved permanently disfigured .
But no one appears to have borne the brunt quite as badly as Joe Biden .
Ukraine , which no one thought about until the impeachment , is now Biden ’ s albatross .
If not for impeachment , we would never have once pondered what exactly it was that Biden ’ s middle-aged son Hunter Biden was doing in his lucrative role as a board member for Burisma Holdings .
( He was apparently there as nothing more than a shield against accusations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father was vice president . )
If not for the impeachment , we all would have long forgotten that Joe Biden himself has admitted he was uneasy about his son ’ s involvement with the seedy energy company , even as he was supposedly tasked by President Barack Obama with weeding out corruption in Ukraine .
If not for the impeachment , Biden wouldn ’ t have had to declare in every interview and Democratic debate that his hands were clean and his son , with his history of drug abuse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just having to repeat his innocence over and over again made him look guilty .
And so now , look at Biden .
When Democrats figure out how to deliver the inevitably tainted results of the Iowa caucuses , it looks like Biden will come in a distant fourth place , and he could very well end with a similar result in New Hampshire next week .
Back in late November , before the impeachment hearings began , Biden was polling nationally at the head of the crowded primary field at 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Wednesday , his support has fallen by 4 points .
Let ’ s check in with President Trump , who was supposed to suffer from impeachment .
His approval rating has effectively remained unchanged from November to now .
It sits at an average of 45 % , though if you go back to October , that ’ s actually up 3 points .
Sorry , Biden .
You weren ’ t the one Democrats impeached , but you certainly suffered because of it .

Impeachment served as an atomic bomb that left pretty much everyone involved permanently disfigured. But no one appears to have borne the brunt quite as badly as Joe Biden.
Ukraine, which no one thought about until the impeachment, is now Biden’s albatross.
If not for impeachment, we would never have once pondered what exactly it was that Biden’s middle-aged son Hunter Biden was doing in his lucrative role as a board member for Burisma Holdings. (He was apparently there as nothing more than a shield against accusations of corruption from the U.S. State Department while his father was vice president.)
If not for the impeachment, we all would have long forgotten that Joe Biden himself has admitted he was uneasy about his son’s involvement with the seedy energy company, even as he was supposedly tasked by President Barack Obama with weeding out corruption in Ukraine.
If not for the impeachment, Biden wouldn’t have had to declare in every interview and Democratic debate that his hands were clean and his son, with his history of drug abuse and family issues, had done nothing wrong. Just having to repeat his innocence over and over again made him look guilty.
And so now, look at Biden. When Democrats figure out how to deliver the inevitably tainted results of the Iowa caucuses, it looks like Biden will come in a distant fourth place, and he could very well end with a similar result in New Hampshire next week.
Back in late November, before the impeachment hearings began, Biden was polling nationally at the head of the crowded primary field at 31%, according to the RealClearPolitics average. As of Wednesday, his support has fallen by 4 points.
Let’s check in with President Trump, who was supposed to suffer from impeachment. His approval rating has effectively remained unchanged from November to now. It sits at an average of 45%, though if you go back to October, that’s actually up 3 points.
Sorry, Biden. You weren’t the one Democrats impeached, but you certainly suffered because of it.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-05--Buttigieg gets New Hampshire bump from late-arriving Iowa results

Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg takes second place in a newly released New Hampshire poll , picking up momentum amid delayed Iowa caucus results .
An Emerson poll released Wednesday shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with a commanding lead in New Hampshire , polling at 32 % .
But results show Buttigieg in second place with 17 % , beating former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who are polling at 13 % and 11 % , respectively .
Support for Buttigieg , 38 , and Sanders , 78 , grew by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since Tuesday , indicating that their front-runner statuses in Iowa have boosted their momentum thus far .
`` Bernie may have gotten his bounce yesterday as his Iowa poll numbers gave him front runner status and his New Hampshire numbers increased from 29 % to 32 % between day 1 and 2 of the track , but with the news today of Pete ’ s Iowa performance he saw his own 5 point bounce between day 2 and 3 , '' said Spencer Kimball , the director of Emerson College Polling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Buttigieg leads the Democratic field with 26.9 % of state delegate equivalents , while the Vermont socialist has 25.2 % .
And despite Warren 's capture of over 18 % in Iowa , the poll suggests a continual decline in New Hampshire support for her campaign , falling 2 % since Tuesday .
Biden has fallen behind in both Iowa and New Hampshire , grabbing approximately 15 % support in Iowa amid early reporting and 13 % in the Emerson poll .
The poll was conducted from February 2-4 and featured responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has 500 respondents with a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points .

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg takes second place in a newly released New Hampshire poll, picking up momentum amid delayed Iowa caucus results.
An Emerson poll released Wednesday shows Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with a commanding lead in New Hampshire, polling at 32%. But results show Buttigieg in second place with 17%, beating former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who are polling at 13% and 11%, respectively.
Support for Buttigieg, 38, and Sanders, 78, grew by 5% and 3%, respectively, since Tuesday, indicating that their front-runner statuses in Iowa have boosted their momentum thus far.
"Bernie may have gotten his bounce yesterday as his Iowa poll numbers gave him front runner status and his New Hampshire numbers increased from 29% to 32% between day 1 and 2 of the track, but with the news today of Pete’s Iowa performance he saw his own 5 point bounce between day 2 and 3," said Spencer Kimball, the director of Emerson College Polling.
With 62% of Iowa precincts reporting, Buttigieg leads the Democratic field with 26.9% of state delegate equivalents, while the Vermont socialist has 25.2%. And despite Warren's capture of over 18% in Iowa, the poll suggests a continual decline in New Hampshire support for her campaign, falling 2% since Tuesday.
Biden has fallen behind in both Iowa and New Hampshire, grabbing approximately 15% support in Iowa amid early reporting and 13% in the Emerson poll.
The poll was conducted from February 2-4 and featured responses from registered Democratic voters and Democratic-leaning independents. It has 500 respondents with a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-05--Michael Barone: Thoughts on the (partial) Iowa Democratic caucus results

Three additional points on the still ( after 36 hours ) incomplete results of the Iowa Democratic caucuses .
1 .
Turnout was low , with total turnout of approximately 170,000 , about the same as in 2016 and well below the 220,000 level of 2008 .
In 2008 , high turnout was a good omen for Democrats , as Barack Obama won 53 % of the vote nationwide and 54 % in Iowa , which had been an exceedingly close state in both 2000 and 2004 .
In 2016 , in contrast , Hillary Clinton won only 48 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disastrous 42 % in Iowa in November .
Strong Democratic enthusiasm , optimism about the party ’ s chances in November , and a large field of candidates were all factors drawing the large turnout in 2008 .
In 2016 , Democratic enthusiasm was less , and at least some Democratic voters had reservations about the only two competitive candidates , Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders .
This year , Democrats had a large field of candidates , larger than in 2008 , and a close contest as indicated by precaucus polling ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % and 23 % ) .
And anti-Trump feeling had boosted Democratic turnout in the 2018 off-year elections .
The relatively low Democratic turnout this year in Iowa suggests a lack of enthusiasm for the party ’ s candidates , a pessimism about the chances of defeating President Trump , a lack of urgency at a time of economic prosperity — or some combination thereof .
None of it is good news for Democratic turnout in November .
2 .
There are multiple ways of scoring the Iowa caucuses — by the preferences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second-vote preferences after each caucus declared unviable candidates with less than 15 % of the votes and allowed their supporters to vote for others , or state convention delegate equivalents .
By the way , I ’ m using the currently available numbers , provided by the Iowa Democratic Party and described as representing results in 71 % of caucus precincts .
I notice that most media outlets are featuring the SDE numbers , showing Pete Buttigieg leading Bernie Sanders 26 % to 25 % .
The SDE numbers will translate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic conventions , to the numbers of the state ’ s 44 delegates allocated to each candidate .
It ’ s a race for delegates , the argument goes , and so concentrate on SDEs , which reflect the ultimate delegate count .
But notice that not that many delegates are at stake .
Buttigieg may end up with four to six more delegates than he would have if the delegate count was based on first preferences , in which Sanders beat him by a 24 % to 21 % margin .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a roll call on which a difference of four to six delegates determines the outcome .
The number of first preferences is a measure that will be commensurate with the results of subsequent primaries ( and the few other Democratic caucuses ) .
The second-round results show Buttigieg gaining 3,943 votes over the first round , more than Sanders ( up 1,344 ) and Warren ( up 1,641 ) put together .
That suggests Sanders has a lower ceiling than his 43 % of total primary votes in 2016 ( when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton ) and would indicate and that Buttigieg has a greater potential to increase his vote totals as other candidates drop out or fade from contention .
Iowa Democrats never before counted or provided caucusgoers ’ first-round preferences .
I think they should get more prominence ( at least as much as SDEs ) than the media are giving them .
3 .
As my Washington Examiner colleague Tim Carney notes , this was a disastrous performance for Joe Biden .
Leading for months in national polls , he finished a poor fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell 2,357 from his initial preferences , indicating that he couldn ’ t reach the 15 % viability threshold in very many precincts .
It suggests that many of his supporters , while willing to answer pollsters ’ phone calls , couldn ’ t be bothered to show up for the caucuses .
It ’ s analogous , I think , to his poor fundraising totals , which have lagged well behind those of Sanders , Buttigieg , and Warren .
Traditional Democratic big-money contributors active since the Bill Clinton era seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support , but they seem to be a vanishing species and don ’ t dominate Democratic giving as they once did .
The Biden campaign insists that its candidate is just getting started .
Maybe .
But his prospects in New Hampshire look dismal , Nevada looks iffy , and the most recent poll in South Carolina suggests he ’ s lost his lock on the black voters who have cast a majority of the state ’ s votes in previous primaries .
I remember interviewing the 29-year-old Biden on the phone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly how he would beat a longtime popular Republican senator .
That was the start of a long career in electoral politics .
It looks like that career might be over this year , just short of half a century later .

Three additional points on the still (after 36 hours) incomplete results of the Iowa Democratic caucuses.
1. Turnout was low, with total turnout of approximately 170,000, about the same as in 2016 and well below the 220,000 level of 2008. In 2008, high turnout was a good omen for Democrats, as Barack Obama won 53% of the vote nationwide and 54% in Iowa, which had been an exceedingly close state in both 2000 and 2004. In 2016, in contrast, Hillary Clinton won only 48% of the popular vote nationally and a disastrous 42% in Iowa in November.
Strong Democratic enthusiasm, optimism about the party’s chances in November, and a large field of candidates were all factors drawing the large turnout in 2008. In 2016, Democratic enthusiasm was less, and at least some Democratic voters had reservations about the only two competitive candidates, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. This year, Democrats had a large field of candidates, larger than in 2008, and a close contest as indicated by precaucus polling (which showed four candidates with between 16% and 23%). And anti-Trump feeling had boosted Democratic turnout in the 2018 off-year elections.
The relatively low Democratic turnout this year in Iowa suggests a lack of enthusiasm for the party’s candidates, a pessimism about the chances of defeating President Trump, a lack of urgency at a time of economic prosperity — or some combination thereof. None of it is good news for Democratic turnout in November.
2. There are multiple ways of scoring the Iowa caucuses — by the preferences of those entering the caucuses, by the second-vote preferences after each caucus declared unviable candidates with less than 15% of the votes and allowed their supporters to vote for others, or state convention delegate equivalents. By the way, I’m using the currently available numbers, provided by the Iowa Democratic Party and described as representing results in 71% of caucus precincts.
I notice that most media outlets are featuring the SDE numbers, showing Pete Buttigieg leading Bernie Sanders 26% to 25%. The SDE numbers will translate, at Iowa’s county and state Democratic conventions, to the numbers of the state’s 44 delegates allocated to each candidate. It’s a race for delegates, the argument goes, and so concentrate on SDEs, which reflect the ultimate delegate count.
But notice that not that many delegates are at stake. Buttigieg may end up with four to six more delegates than he would have if the delegate count was based on first preferences, in which Sanders beat him by a 24% to 21% margin. But the nomination is unlikely to be decided by a roll call on which a difference of four to six delegates determines the outcome. The number of first preferences is a measure that will be commensurate with the results of subsequent primaries (and the few other Democratic caucuses). The second-round results show Buttigieg gaining 3,943 votes over the first round, more than Sanders (up 1,344) and Warren (up 1,641) put together. That suggests Sanders has a lower ceiling than his 43% of total primary votes in 2016 (when he was the only real alternative to Hillary Clinton) and would indicate and that Buttigieg has a greater potential to increase his vote totals as other candidates drop out or fade from contention.
Iowa Democrats never before counted or provided caucusgoers’ first-round preferences. I think they should get more prominence (at least as much as SDEs) than the media are giving them.
3. As my Washington Examiner colleague Tim Carney notes, this was a disastrous performance for Joe Biden. Leading for months in national polls, he finished a poor fourth in Iowa, and his second-round total fell 2,357 from his initial preferences, indicating that he couldn’t reach the 15% viability threshold in very many precincts. It suggests that many of his supporters, while willing to answer pollsters’ phone calls, couldn’t be bothered to show up for the caucuses. It’s analogous, I think, to his poor fundraising totals, which have lagged well behind those of Sanders, Buttigieg, and Warren. Traditional Democratic big-money contributors active since the Bill Clinton era seem to have formed the core of his financial support, but they seem to be a vanishing species and don’t dominate Democratic giving as they once did.
The Biden campaign insists that its candidate is just getting started. Maybe. But his prospects in New Hampshire look dismal, Nevada looks iffy, and the most recent poll in South Carolina suggests he’s lost his lock on the black voters who have cast a majority of the state’s votes in previous primaries. I remember interviewing the 29-year-old Biden on the phone in May 1972, when he sketched out exactly how he would beat a longtime popular Republican senator. That was the start of a long career in electoral politics. It looks like that career might be over this year, just short of half a century later.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-05--Pete Buttigieg proved he could bring back Obama-to-Trump counties in Iowa

Bernie Sanders acolytes can complain all they want about their current popular vote lead in the botched Iowa caucuses .
But just as with winning a general election , becoming a party 's presidential nominee requires playing a delegate game , and as the results from the first primary contest continue to trickle in more than a day after the caucus doors closed , Pete Buttigieg seems to have exacted the most successful strategy .
With a little more than 71 % of precincts reporting , the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor has secured 31,458 popular votes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although Bernie bested Buttigieg in the popular vote by a little more than 1,000 , he 's only brought in 25.2 % of the delegate share .
Iowa only provides 1 % of the total delegates awarded to presidential primary contenders .
But what matters for Buttigieg is not just that he 's on pace to win Iowa , but where he earned such a victory .
Buttigieg spent the better part of January courting cities in the Hawkeye State that flipped from Barack Obama to Donald Trump , betting on his ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mayor Pete may be a policy moderate in name only , but based on the available precinct data , he proved himself electable .
For all that the woefully woke Left has berated Buttigieg for praising the heartland , it looks like it paid off .
In an election where Obama 's former vice president has spent a year as the dominant front-runner , Buttigieg is the candidate who evidently earned the most Obama-to-Trump areas .
That somewhat harms Biden 's electability case and substantially helps Buttigieg 's .
Buttigieg is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that his strategy has an endpoint , and one his detractors would be wise not to ignore .

Bernie Sanders acolytes can complain all they want about their current popular vote lead in the botched Iowa caucuses. But just as with winning a general election, becoming a party's presidential nominee requires playing a delegate game, and as the results from the first primary contest continue to trickle in more than a day after the caucus doors closed, Pete Buttigieg seems to have exacted the most successful strategy.
With a little more than 71% of precincts reporting, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor has secured 31,458 popular votes and 26.8% of the delegate share. Although Bernie bested Buttigieg in the popular vote by a little more than 1,000, he's only brought in 25.2% of the delegate share. Iowa only provides 1% of the total delegates awarded to presidential primary contenders. But what matters for Buttigieg is not just that he's on pace to win Iowa, but where he earned such a victory.
Buttigieg spent the better part of January courting cities in the Hawkeye State that flipped from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, betting on his ability to sell himself as an electable moderate. Mayor Pete may be a policy moderate in name only, but based on the available precinct data, he proved himself electable. For all that the woefully woke Left has berated Buttigieg for praising the heartland, it looks like it paid off. In an election where Obama's former vice president has spent a year as the dominant front-runner, Buttigieg is the candidate who evidently earned the most Obama-to-Trump areas. That somewhat harms Biden's electability case and substantially helps Buttigieg's.
Buttigieg is still far from a front-runner, but he showed that his strategy has an endpoint, and one his detractors would be wise not to ignore.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Matt Gaetz claims 'there will be an ethics investigation' into Pelosi for tearing Trump speech

Rep. Matt Gaetz said he will be working to get an investigation going into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because she tore up a copy of President Trump ’ s State of the Union address .
“ I will be filing charges against Nancy Pelosi in the House Ethics Committee , ” the Florida Republican told Laura Ingraham on Fox News .
“ She disgraced the House of Representatives , she embarrassed our country , and she destroyed official records . ''
“ The law does not allow the speaker of the House to destroy the records of the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not permit some little temper tantrum just because you don ’ t like what the president of the United States says , ” he added , noting that he would be working with Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to penalize the speaker .
Gaetz said Republicans are “ sick of the double standard ” and pointed out Democratic anger when Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted , “ You lie !
” to President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress .
“ We ought to apply the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to apply to us , and there will be an ethics investigation of Nancy Pelosi , and we will start the ball rolling to have her censured , and the first act begins tomorrow , ” he said .
Despite his claim that Pelosi ’ s act represented destruction of official documents , Ingraham pointed out that Republicans don ’ t have a majority in the House and that it is not an official record because it was simply a copy of Trump ’ s speech .
GOP Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's parents , said Wednesday he plans to introduce a resolution censuring Pelosi for the stunt .
“ In a new low , she violated the Code of Official Conduct requiring members 'behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House , ' ” Gosar said .

Rep. Matt Gaetz said he will be working to get an investigation going into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because she tore up a copy of President Trump’s State of the Union address.
“I will be filing charges against Nancy Pelosi in the House Ethics Committee,” the Florida Republican told Laura Ingraham on Fox News. “She disgraced the House of Representatives, she embarrassed our country, and she destroyed official records."
“The law does not allow the speaker of the House to destroy the records of the House, and the rules of the House do not permit some little temper tantrum just because you don’t like what the president of the United States says,” he added, noting that he would be working with Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to penalize the speaker.
Gaetz said Republicans are “sick of the double standard” and pointed out Democratic anger when Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted, “You lie!” to President Barack Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress.
“We ought to apply the same standards to the Democrats that they want to apply to us, and there will be an ethics investigation of Nancy Pelosi, and we will start the ball rolling to have her censured, and the first act begins tomorrow,” he said.
Despite his claim that Pelosi’s act represented destruction of official documents, Ingraham pointed out that Republicans don’t have a majority in the House and that it is not an official record because it was simply a copy of Trump’s speech.
GOP Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, the congressman who represents Kayla Mueller's parents, said Wednesday he plans to introduce a resolution censuring Pelosi for the stunt.
“In a new low, she violated the Code of Official Conduct requiring members 'behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House,'” Gosar said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump tweets video claiming Romney is a 'Democrat secret asset' after impeachment vote

President Trump tweeted out a video accusing Sen. Mitt Romney of being a “ Democrat secret asset ” after the Utah Republican broke with his party and voted to convict Trump of one article of impeachment .
“ Slick , slippery , stealthy ; Mitt Romney had us fooled , ” the video 's narrator opens , accompanied by altered pictures of Romney wearing dark , aviator-style sunglasses .
“ Posing as a Republican , he tried to infiltrate Trump ’ s administration as secretary of state , ” the video continues .
“ Now , his cover is blown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat secret asset . ''
The video then cuts to clips from election night in 2012 when Romney was the Republican nominee for president .
It shows CNN ’ s Wolf Blitzer announcing that President Barack Obama was reelected .
“ That was a race , I have to say , folks , that should have been won , ” Trump is heard saying in the video , which then launches into news footage of Trump beating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election .
Immediately after the vote Trump , posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being reelected indefinitely .
Romney , 72 , said he made his decision to convict Trump on the abuse of power article just hours before Wednesday ’ s vote .
He voted to acquit the president on the charge of obstruction Congress .
Romney was the only senator to break with his party on the matter .
“ It ’ s going to get very lonely , ” Romney said of the vote .
“ And , again , the consequences are significant .
They 're enough that it made this a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m. ” The Senate voted 52-48 to acquit the president on the abuse of power charge and 53-47 to acquit the president on the obstruction of Congress charge .

President Trump tweeted out a video accusing Sen. Mitt Romney of being a “Democrat secret asset” after the Utah Republican broke with his party and voted to convict Trump of one article of impeachment.
“Slick, slippery, stealthy; Mitt Romney had us fooled,” the video's narrator opens, accompanied by altered pictures of Romney wearing dark, aviator-style sunglasses.
“Posing as a Republican, he tried to infiltrate Trump’s administration as secretary of state,” the video continues. “Now, his cover is blown, exposed by news reports as a Democrat secret asset."
The video then cuts to clips from election night in 2012 when Romney was the Republican nominee for president. It shows CNN’s Wolf Blitzer announcing that President Barack Obama was reelected.
“That was a race, I have to say, folks, that should have been won,” Trump is heard saying in the video, which then launches into news footage of Trump beating Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
Immediately after the vote Trump, posted a video trolling his rivals and showing him being reelected indefinitely.
Romney, 72, said he made his decision to convict Trump on the abuse of power article just hours before Wednesday’s vote. He voted to acquit the president on the charge of obstruction Congress. Romney was the only senator to break with his party on the matter.
“It’s going to get very lonely,” Romney said of the vote. “And, again, the consequences are significant. They're enough that it made this a very difficult process for me. There’s not been a morning since this process began that I slept beyond 4 a.m.”
The Senate voted 52-48 to acquit the president on the abuse of power charge and 53-47 to acquit the president on the obstruction of Congress charge.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--After impeachment acquittal comes removing Pelosi from her role as speaker, Pence says

EAST PENNSBORO , Pennsylvania — Vice President Mike Pence called on supporters to make sure Nancy Pelosi is removed from the role of speaker of the House in November as he celebrated President Trump ’ s impeachment acquittal .
He said the Senate victory should serve as a springboard to winning back the House .
“ I think they tried to impeach this president because they know they can ’ t defeat President Donald Trump in November of 2020 , ” Pence told a boisterous crowd at a Women for Trump event outside Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .
“ But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans came forward .
The president was acquitted , '' he said .
“ They ’ ve had their say .
Come November , we ’ ll have our say , '' Pence said .
With Trump preparing for a midday address on Thursday , it was up to Pence to lead the White House response to the Senate acquittal .
He was aboard his campaign bus , driving from a diner stop in Lancaster to the rally , when news of the vote came through .
It turned an already lively crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of excitement in the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel as they celebrated acquittal .
They greeted gaps in Pence 's speech with chants of “ four more years ” and drowned out some of his words , such as when he said it was time to dump Pelosi out of her job .
`` Let 's make sure it 's the last time Speaker Nancy Pelosi ever sits in the chair behind the president during the State of the Union address , '' he said , with the final words disappearing in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talked to journalists aboard his campaign bus .
More relaxed without his suit jacket on , the vice president sipped coffee as he talked about the likely acquittal , including how it would damage the Democrats and set up Republicans for move victories in elections this year .
`` People have lives to lead , ” he said .
“ I think it 's backfired and will continue to backfire on the Democrats . ''
He watched the news come through on two televisions on his bus shortly before taking the stage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , before joking that he had enjoyed the State of the Union a bit more than the House speaker sitting just next to him .
Pelosi could be seen tearing up a paper copy of Trump 's speech as he completed the address .
“ Just a little while ago , the United States Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump ... of articles of impeachment , '' he said .
`` After a sham investigation and partisan impeachment , it 's over , America .
It 's been an incredible week @ @ @ @ @

EAST PENNSBORO, Pennsylvania — Vice President Mike Pence called on supporters to make sure Nancy Pelosi is removed from the role of speaker of the House in November as he celebrated President Trump’s impeachment acquittal.
He said the Senate victory should serve as a springboard to winning back the House.
“I think they tried to impeach this president because they know they can’t defeat President Donald Trump in November of 2020,” Pence told a boisterous crowd at a Women for Trump event outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “But that’s all over now. Senate Republicans came forward. The president was acquitted," he said.
“They’ve had their say. Come November, we’ll have our say," Pence said.
With Trump preparing for a midday address on Thursday, it was up to Pence to lead the White House response to the Senate acquittal.
He was aboard his campaign bus, driving from a diner stop in Lancaster to the rally, when news of the vote came through.
It turned an already lively crowd of about 500 people into a cauldron of excitement in the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel as they celebrated acquittal.
They greeted gaps in Pence's speech with chants of “four more years” and drowned out some of his words, such as when he said it was time to dump Pelosi out of her job.
"Let's make sure it's the last time Speaker Nancy Pelosi ever sits in the chair behind the president during the State of the Union address," he said, with the final words disappearing in a sea of noise.
Earlier, Pence talked to journalists aboard his campaign bus. More relaxed without his suit jacket on, the vice president sipped coffee as he talked about the likely acquittal, including how it would damage the Democrats and set up Republicans for move victories in elections this year.
"People have lives to lead,” he said. “I think it's backfired and will continue to backfire on the Democrats."
He watched the news come through on two televisions on his bus shortly before taking the stage.
“What a week,” he said, before joking that he had enjoyed the State of the Union a bit more than the House speaker sitting just next to him. Pelosi could be seen tearing up a paper copy of Trump's speech as he completed the address.
“Just a little while ago, the United States Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump ... of articles of impeachment," he said.
"After a sham investigation and partisan impeachment, it's over, America. It's been an incredible week," Pence said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Nail-biter: Sanders and Buttigieg neck-and-neck in Iowa with 97% of precincts reporting

The Iowa Democratic caucuses are coming down to a photo finish as only one-tenth of a percentage point separates Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders with 97 % of precincts reported .
The former South Bend , Indiana mayor holds 26.2 % of state delegate equivalents as of 12:50 a.m. EST on Thursday , the traditional unit to measure a winner that translates to Democratic National Convention nominating delegates , while the Vermont senator has 26.1 % .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden remain in third and fourth place with 18.2 % and 15.8 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 38 , declared victory early on Monday night based on his campaign 's internal figures , peeving his rivals .
The first wave of results showed Buttigieg 2 points ahead of the Vermont senator , but Sanders , 78 , declared his own victory on Tuesday by pointing to his lead in the popular vote .
Most recent results show that Sanders has support from 44,753 caucus-goers on final alignment , a 2,518-vote lead on Buttigieg 's 42,235 .
The jump for Sanders in the most results reported comes from `` satellite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote earlier in the day on Monday and across the country , meant to accommodate shift workers and people unable to attend an hours-long process at a traditional caucus site at 7 p.m. Central Time on Feb. 3 .
The close call indicates that Sanders organized the satellite caucuses while his rivals did not .
Results were expected on Monday night but were delayed due to an app that the Iowa Democratic Party used to report results was found to have coding glitches , causing the party to manually verify results in each @ @

The Iowa Democratic caucuses are coming down to a photo finish as only one-tenth of a percentage point separates Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders, with 97% of precincts having reported.
The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor holds 26.2% of state delegate equivalents as of 12:50 a.m. EST on Thursday, the traditional unit to measure a winner that translates to Democratic National Convention nominating delegates, while the Vermont senator has 26.1%.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden remain in third and fourth place with 18.2% and 15.8% of state delegate equivalents, respectively.
Buttigieg, 38, declared victory early on Monday night based on his campaign's internal figures, peeving his rivals. The first wave of results showed Buttigieg 2 points ahead of the Vermont senator, but Sanders, 78, declared his own victory on Tuesday by pointing to his lead in the popular vote. The most recent results show that Sanders has support from 44,753 caucusgoers on final alignment, a 2,518-vote lead on Buttigieg's 42,235.
The jump for Sanders in the most results reported comes from "satellite" caucuses, sites where caucusgoers could vote earlier in the day on Monday and across the country, meant to accommodate shift workers and people unable to attend an hours-long process at a traditional caucus site at 7 p.m. CST on Feb. 3. The close call indicates that Sanders organized the satellite caucuses while his rivals did not.
Results were expected on Monday night but were delayed when an app that the Iowa Democratic Party used to report results was found to have coding glitches, causing the party to verify results in each precinct manually.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--'I’ve been an American for longer': Peeved Bloomberg touts being older than Biden

Michael Bloomberg pointed out an unusual point of distinction when arguing why he is a better candidate than his rivals in the Democratic presidential race : his old age .
The billionaire former New York mayor responded to the suggestion his candidacy risks taking votes away from fellow centrist candidates Pete Buttigieg , 38 , and former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , ultimately helping an ideological rival such as socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , 78 , win the Democratic presidential nomination .
“ What ’ d I miss ?
Why ?
Am I not as important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told local New England news station WPRI on Wednesday .
“ I ’ ve been an American for longer than Mayor Pete has .
I ’ ve been an American for longer than Joe Biden has .
I have a right to run , as well , and the public can pick and choose.
” Bloomberg is 10 months and six days older than Biden .
Both men were born in 1942 .
Either of them or Sanders would be the oldest president ever elected .
President Ronald Reagan , the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office in 1989 .
Four septuagenarians seek the Democratic presidential nomination : Bloomberg , Biden , Sanders , and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 70 .
In recent decades , Democrats won the presidency with candidates more than 20 years younger than their Republican competitors but lost with candidates who were similar in age to their rivals .
While Biden and Sanders have responded to doubts about their old age by arguing that their decades of experience are valuable , it is unusual for the older candidates to draw distinctions about their experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or years .
Bloomberg is skipping competing in the first four early nominating contest states of Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada , and South Carolina and is running a high-cost national campaign hoping to win nominating delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Mar .
3 Super Tuesday states and beyond .
He is in fourth place with 10.6 % in the RealClearPolitics average of national primary polls , ahead of Buttigieg 's 7 % but behind Biden 's 27 % , Sanders 's 21.8 % , and Warren 's 14.4 % @

Michael Bloomberg pointed out an unusual point of distinction when arguing why he is a better candidate than his rivals in the Democratic presidential race: his old age.
The billionaire former New York mayor responded to the suggestion his candidacy risks taking votes away from fellow centrist candidates Pete Buttigieg, 38, and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, ultimately helping an ideological rival such as socialist Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 78, win the Democratic presidential nomination.
“What’d I miss? Why? Am I not as important to this country?” Bloomberg, 78, told local New England news station WPRI on Wednesday. “I’ve been an American for longer than Mayor Pete has. I’ve been an American for longer than Joe Biden has. I have a right to run, as well, and the public can pick and choose.”
Bloomberg is 10 months and six days older than Biden. Both men were born in 1942.
Either of them or Sanders would be the oldest president ever elected. President Ronald Reagan, the current record-holder, was 77 when he left office in 1989. Four septuagenarians seek the Democratic presidential nomination: Bloomberg, Biden, Sanders, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70.
In recent decades, Democrats won the presidency with candidates more than 20 years younger than their Republican competitors but lost with candidates who were similar in age to their rivals.
While Biden and Sanders have responded to doubts about their old age by arguing that their decades of experience are valuable, it is unusual for the older candidates to draw distinctions about their experience by pointing to a matter of months or years.
Bloomberg is skipping competing in the first four early nominating contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina and is running a high-cost national campaign hoping to win nominating delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Mar. 3 Super Tuesday states and beyond. He is in fourth place with 10.6% in the RealClearPolitics average of national primary polls, ahead of Buttigieg's 7% but behind Biden's 27%, Sanders's 21.8%, and Warren's 14.4%.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Warren grasps to hang on in New Hampshire after weak Iowa results

NASHUA , New Hampshire — Iowa ’ s Democratic caucuses have left Elizabeth Warren teetering on the edge of survival in her quest to secure the Democratic presidential nomination .
As results trickle in from Iowa , attention is overwhelmingly focused on both South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders trying to claim victory .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , meanwhile , has tried to downplay a fourth-place finish .
The Massachusetts senator , 70 , tried to strike an optimistic tone before final results were released .
`` Here 's what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-way race at the top , '' Warren said at her first town hall in New Hampshire on Tuesday .
`` We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa.
” But the release of partial Iowa results on Tuesday had Warren in a distant third place behind Buttigieg and Sanders in state delegate equivalents , neither surging above or falling significantly behind where the RealClearPolitics polling average found her , at 18.6 % , in the days before the caucuses .
Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 350,000 in ad spending that was scheduled in the next two primary contest states of Nevada and South Carolina .
She denied that the change in ad money reflected a change in her strategy to go all-in on New Hampshire .
“ It ’ s about the fact that we completely finance our campaign through grassroots , and I just always want to be careful about how we spend money , ” she said .
Warren avoided answering whether she needs a first-place finish in New Hampshire to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the numbers as much as it is about the people , the enthusiasm , ” Warren said .
After New Hampshire , she said , “ We 've got 55 more states and territories .
We already have on-the-ground operations in 31 states and 1,000 people.
” In recent weeks , Warren has adjusted her pitch to voters , which long had a focus on her left-wing policy proposals and “ big , structural change , ” by arguing that she is best-positioned to unite the party and the country , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters could support her in a general election .
Voters who saw Warren in Nashua on Wednesday , however , were skeptical that she could appeal across the aisle .
“ I ’ m betting that she can ’ t , because I do n't think it 's Republicans could come back from where they are , ” said Steve Williams , a retired Nashua resident who strongly supports the Massachusetts senator .
“ That will be tough , ” said Carol Gayman , a Manchester resident and an undecided voter who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And I do n't rely on females to say , ‘ Well , I 'm going to vote for her because she 's female.
’ I do n't trust them , anymore .
”

NASHUA, New Hampshire — Iowa’s Democratic caucuses have left Elizabeth Warren teetering on the edge of survival in her quest to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.
As results trickle in from Iowa, attention is overwhelmingly focused on both South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders trying to claim victory. Former Vice President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has tried to downplay a fourth-place finish.
The Massachusetts senator, 70, tried to strike an optimistic tone before final results were released.
"Here's what we know: It's a tight, three-way race at the top," Warren said at her first town hall in New Hampshire on Tuesday. "We know that the three of us will be dividing up most of the delegates coming out of Iowa.”
But the release of partial Iowa results on Tuesday had Warren in a distant third place behind Buttigieg and Sanders in state delegate equivalents, neither surging above or falling significantly behind where the RealClearPolitics polling average found her, at 18.6%, in the days before the caucuses.
Warren’s campaign on Tuesday evening canceled more than $350,000 in ad spending that was scheduled in the next two primary contest states of Nevada and South Carolina.
She denied that the change in ad money reflected a change in her strategy to go all-in on New Hampshire. “It’s about the fact that we completely finance our campaign through grassroots, and I just always want to be careful about how we spend money,” she said.
Warren avoided answering whether she needs a first-place finish in New Hampshire to have a viable campaign. “This isn't about the numbers as much as it is about the people, the enthusiasm,” Warren said.
After New Hampshire, she said, “We've got 55 more states and territories. We already have on-the-ground operations in 31 states and 1,000 people.”
In recent weeks, Warren has adjusted her pitch to voters, which long had a focus on her left-wing policy proposals and “big, structural change,” by arguing that she is best-positioned to unite the party and the country, even going as far to suggest that Republican voters could support her in a general election.
Voters who saw Warren in Nashua on Wednesday, however, were skeptical that she could appeal across the aisle.
“I’m betting that she can’t, because I don't think it's Republicans could come back from where they are,” said Steve Williams, a retired Nashua resident who strongly supports the Massachusetts senator.
“That will be tough,” said Carol Gayman, a Manchester resident and an undecided voter who is a fundraiser for the local YMCA. “And I don't rely on females to say, ‘Well, I'm going to vote for her because she's female.’ I don't trust them, anymore.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--'Bulk of the credit' belongs with Obama: Buttigieg belittles Biden

Pete Buttigieg took a jab at his primary rival Joe Biden for what he characterized as Biden touting Obama administration victories as if they were his own .
`` As to the achievements of the Obama administration , I have enormous regard for those achievements .
I mean , if you look at what President Obama was able to do with two terms , it 's extraordinary , '' the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor said in an MSNBC interview set to air Thursday .
`` But I think the bulk of the credit for the achievements of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The former vice president has often pointed to achievements under the previous presidency when arguing why he should be the Democratic presidential nominee , calling it the `` Obama-Biden administration '' or referencing `` Barack and I . ''
Biden 's campaign responded to Buttigieg 's comment by pointing out a quote in which Obama , just before he left office in January 2017 , said that Biden is `` the finest vice president we have ever seen , and I also think he has been a lion of American history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's nowhere close to finished . ''
Buttigieg leads in partial results from Monday 's Iowa Democratic caucuses , the first nominating contest for the Democratic presidential nomination , while Biden lags in fourth place .

Pete Buttigieg took a jab at his primary rival Joe Biden for what he characterized as Biden touting Obama administration victories as if they were his own.
"As to the achievements of the Obama administration, I have enormous regard for those achievements. I mean, if you look at what President Obama was able to do with two terms, it's extraordinary," the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor said in an MSNBC interview set to air Thursday. "But I think the bulk of the credit for the achievements of the Obama administration belong with President Obama."
The former vice president has often pointed to achievements under the previous presidency when arguing why he should be the Democratic presidential nominee, calling it the "Obama-Biden administration" or referencing "Barack and I."
Biden's campaign responded to Buttigieg's comment by pointing out a quote in which Obama, just before he left office in January 2017, said that Biden is "the finest vice president we have ever seen, and I also think he has been a lion of American history. The best part is, he's nowhere close to finished."
Buttigieg leads in partial results from Monday's Iowa Democratic caucuses, the first nominating contest for the Democratic presidential nomination, while Biden lags in fourth place.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump calls Schiff and Pelosi 'vicious' and 'horrible' people during impeachment victory lap

President Trump slammed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff in a speech addressing his impeachment acquittal .
At a White House event on Thursday , Trump used the opportunity to take a victory lap and criticize those who led the impeachment effort against him .
He attacked the two California Democrats by calling them “ horrible ” people .
“ These people are vicious .
Adam Schiff is a vicious , horrible person .
Nancy Pelosi is a horrible person .
And she wanted to impeach a long time ago , ” Trump said .
Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year on two Ukraine-related charges .
Schiff was the lead impeachment manager during the Senate trial , which ended in acquittal on Wednesday .
Trump also addressed comments Pelosi made on Thursday after the National Prayer Breakfast , where she said that she prayed for Trump .
“ When she said , ‘ I pray for the president , I pray for the president , ’ she doesn ’ t pray .
She may pray , but she prays for the opposite , ” Trump said .
Pelosi said at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' about prayer and faith .

President Trump slammed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff in a speech addressing his impeachment acquittal.
At a White House event on Thursday, Trump used the opportunity to take a victory lap and criticize those who led the impeachment effort against him. He attacked the two California Democrats by calling them “horrible” people.
“These people are vicious. Adam Schiff is a vicious, horrible person. Nancy Pelosi is a horrible person. And she wanted to impeach a long time ago,” Trump said.
Pelosi oversaw the House's impeachment of Trump late last year on two Ukraine-related charges. Schiff was the lead impeachment manager during the Senate trial, which ended in acquittal on Wednesday.
Trump also addressed comments Pelosi made on Thursday after the National Prayer Breakfast, where she said that she prayed for Trump.
“When she said, ‘I pray for the president, I pray for the president,’ she doesn’t pray. She may pray, but she prays for the opposite,” Trump said.
Pelosi said at the event that the president knows "little" about prayer and faith.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump: FISA court 'should be ashamed'

Trump: FISA court 'should be ashamed'

President Trump condemned the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act process during a speech dedicated to his acquittal on two articles of impeachment .
At a White House event on Thursday , Trump knocked the federal Russia investigation undertaken by former special counsel Robert Mueller .
Then , he took one of his most direct jabs at the FISA surveillance that targeted a one-time member of his 2016 campaign .
“ Little did we know we were running against some very , very bad and evil people with fake dossiers , with all of these horrible , dirty cops that took these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said , referring to the FBI 's reliance on British ex-spy Christopher Steele 's unverified dossier .
“ They knew all about it .
The FISA courts should be ashamed of themselves .
It ’ s a very tough thing .
And then , we ended up winning , ” he added .
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded that the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation was deeply flawed .
The DOJ watchdog criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 `` significant errors and omissions '' related to four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign associate Carter Page that relied on salacious and unverified allegations contained within Steele ’ s dossier .
In the wake of Horowitz ’ s report , the FISA court ordered a review of all FISA filings handled by Kevin Clinesmith , the FBI lawyer who altered a key document about Page in the process to obtain the third warrant renewal .
He is now under criminal investigation by U.S. attorney John Durham , a prosecutor from Connecticut who was tasked by Attorney General William Barr with investigating the origins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced criticism from Republicans about its selection of a former Obama official and FBI Trump-Russia defender to serve as its adviser on FISA reforms .
David Kris , a former assistant attorney general with the Justice Department ’ s national security division during the Obama administration , had spoken out in support of the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation and criticized the House Intelligence Committee 's 2018 memo on alleged FISA abuses .
Steele was hired to conduct his Trump-Russia dirt-digging by the research firm Fusion GPS , which had been hired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Perkins Coie law firm .
Trump briefly blasted the Steele dossier during his Thursday remarks as well .
“ Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid for , millions of dollars , the fake dossier , ” Trump claimed .
“ And now Christopher Steele admits that its a fake because he got sued by rich people .
I should ’ ve sued him too , but when you ’ re president , people don ’ t like you suing.
” Steele and his private company , Orbis Business Intelligence , have defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The report appears to suggest that none of Orbis ’ s reporting about Carter Page has been corroborated , ” Steele ’ s lawyers said in December after the release of Horowitz 's critical report .
“ To the contrary , Carter Page has himself corroborated key aspects of Orbis ’ s reporting .
”

President Trump condemned the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act process during a speech dedicated to his acquittal on two articles of impeachment.
At a White House event on Thursday, Trump knocked the federal Russia investigation undertaken by former special counsel Robert Mueller. Then, he took one of his most direct jabs at the FISA surveillance that targeted a one-time member of his 2016 campaign.
“Little did we know we were running against some very, very bad and evil people with fake dossiers, with all of these horrible, dirty cops that took these dossiers and did bad things,” Trump said, referring to the FBI's reliance on British ex-spy Christopher Steele's unverified dossier.
“They knew all about it. The FISA courts should be ashamed of themselves. It’s a very tough thing. And then, we ended up winning,” he added.
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded that the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation was deeply flawed. The DOJ watchdog criticized the DOJ and the FBI for 17 "significant errors and omissions" related to four secret surveillance court applications and renewals targeting Trump campaign associate Carter Page that relied on salacious and unverified allegations contained within Steele’s dossier.
In the wake of Horowitz’s report, the FISA court ordered a review of all FISA filings handled by Kevin Clinesmith, the FBI lawyer who altered a key document about Page in the process to obtain the third warrant renewal. He is now under criminal investigation by U.S. attorney John Durham, a prosecutor from Connecticut who was tasked by Attorney General William Barr with investigating the origins of the Russia inquiry.
The FISA court has faced criticism from Republicans about its selection of a former Obama official and FBI Trump-Russia defender to serve as its adviser on FISA reforms.
David Kris, a former assistant attorney general with the Justice Department’s national security division during the Obama administration, had spoken out in support of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation and criticized the House Intelligence Committee's 2018 memo on alleged FISA abuses.
Steele was hired to conduct his Trump-Russia dirt-digging by the research firm Fusion GPS, which had been hired by the Clinton campaign and the DNC through the Perkins Coie law firm. Trump briefly blasted the Steele dossier during his Thursday remarks as well.
“Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid for, millions of dollars, the fake dossier,” Trump claimed. “And now Christopher Steele admits that its a fake because he got sued by rich people. I should’ve sued him too, but when you’re president, people don’t like you suing.”
Steele and his private company, Orbis Business Intelligence, have defended the dossier following Horowitz’s report.
“The report appears to suggest that none of Orbis’s reporting about Carter Page has been corroborated,” Steele’s lawyers said in December after the release of Horowitz's critical report. “To the contrary, Carter Page has himself corroborated key aspects of Orbis’s reporting.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--FBI Director Christopher Wray: Steele dossier and former FBI employees are being scrutinized

FBI Director Christopher Wray hinted during an appearance on Capitol Hill that U.S. attorney John Durham is scrutinizing British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s dossier as well as looking into former top FBI employees .
During the Wednesday session , Rep. Jim Jordan , an Ohio Republican , asked Wray if the FBI investigated whether Steele 's salacious and unverified dossier , which fueled Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrants against Trump campaign associate Carter Page , contained Russian disinformation .
The FBI director , appearing before the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee , seemed to dodge the question before strongly suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. attorney for Connecticut , who was assisting in the `` investigation of the investigators . ''
“ We hear so much about Russian interference in our election : It happened .
We all know it did .
We want it to stop , ” Jordan said .
“ But it seems to me that a big part of that Russian election interference was the idea that a document that Russians , information came from Russians that Christopher Steele put together , is scary.
” “ I want to make sure we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wray replied .
“ When it comes to the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation , I think the attorney general has said publicly , so I think that ’ s why I ’ m on solid ground to say that here , is that one of the things that Mr. Durham is looking very specifically at is the origination of the investigation .
And we have been cooperating fully with that investigation , as the attorney general has commented publicly on a number of occasions . ''
Crossfire Hurricane , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Trump campaign members and possible Russian collusion , was launched on July 31 , 2016 .
The FBI ’ s Trump-Russia team didn ’ t receive the Steele dossier until weeks later , so it ’ s notable Wray brought the dossier up in the context of the controversial investigation ’ s opening .
Earlier in the hearing , Jordan had pushed Wray for answers about the dossier , bringing up Dr. Fiona Hill , the national security council ’ s former Russia expert who testified during impeachment proceedings that Steele “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that his dossier “ very likely ” contained disinformation from the Kremlin .
The U.S. intelligence community concluded in 2017 that Russian military intelligence was responsible for hacking thousands of emails from Democrats and providing those stolen records to WikiLeaks .
An investigation by and indictments from special counsel Robert Mueller bolstered this conclusion , though Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump and the Russians .
Republicans asked Wray about discipline for FBI employees involved in the missteps and abuses outlined in Department of Justice Inspector General Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI director called the actions in the report “ unacceptable ” and said every current FBI employee mentioned in the report had been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility for a disciplinary review .
Wray repeatedly suggested that Durham might take further action against the FBI leadership from the time of the FBI ’ s Trump-Russia investigation in 2016 .
“ Are all the individuals and agents and supervisors that were involved in all of these abuses … have they resigned or been fired or been removed from their position ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ At the more senior level of the FBI , the people involved I think in every respect I can think of are gone from the FBI , ” Wray said .
“ And of course , there is an ongoing investigation by Mr. Durham , with which we ’ re actively cooperating and fully cooperating , I might add.
” Former bureau leaders such as FBI Director James Comey , FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , and FBI special agent Peter Strzok have been fired from the bureau in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word ‘ unacceptable ’ — I would think you would find a stronger word for that over what has happened by the actions of people who sullied the reputations of every decent person at the FBI , ” Rep. Tom McClintock of California said .
“ For the current employees , the vast majority of the people involved in the conduct that you ’ re describing are no longer with the investigation , so they ’ re not subject to our disciplinary process in the first place , ” Wray replied .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as you know , the ongoing John Durham investigation , which we ’ ve been cooperating with fully as the attorney general himself has said .
So I look forward to hopefully having another hearing with you at some point where we can have a very different conversation about the FBI.
” Attorney General William Barr and Durham broke with Horowitz on whether the bureau ’ s Trump-Russia investigation was properly predicated .
Horowitz said he “ did not find documentary or testimonial evidence of intentional misconduct ” from the FBI agents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ also did not receive satisfactory explanations for the errors or problems we identified .
”

FBI Director Christopher Wray hinted during an appearance on Capitol Hill that U.S. attorney John Durham is scrutinizing British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s dossier as well as looking into former top FBI employees.
During the Wednesday session, Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, asked Wray if the FBI investigated whether Steele's salacious and unverified dossier, which fueled Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrants against Trump campaign associate Carter Page, contained Russian disinformation.
The FBI director, appearing before the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee, seemed to dodge the question before strongly suggesting the issue was being handled by the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, who was assisting in the "investigation of the investigators."
“We hear so much about Russian interference in our election: It happened. We all know it did. We want it to stop,” Jordan said. “But it seems to me that a big part of that Russian election interference was the idea that a document that Russians, information came from Russians that Christopher Steele put together, is scary.”
“I want to make sure we’re not talking past each other unintentionally,” Wray replied. “When it comes to the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, I think the attorney general has said publicly, so I think that’s why I’m on solid ground to say that here, is that one of the things that Mr. Durham is looking very specifically at is the origination of the investigation. And we have been cooperating fully with that investigation, as the attorney general has commented publicly on a number of occasions."
Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation aimed at Trump campaign members and possible Russian collusion, was launched on July 31, 2016. The FBI’s Trump-Russia team didn’t receive the Steele dossier until weeks later, so it’s notable Wray brought the dossier up in the context of the controversial investigation’s opening.
Earlier in the hearing, Jordan had pushed Wray for answers about the dossier, bringing up Dr. Fiona Hill, the national security council’s former Russia expert who testified during impeachment proceedings that Steele “could have been played by the Russians” and that his dossier “very likely” contained disinformation from the Kremlin.
The U.S. intelligence community concluded in 2017 that Russian military intelligence was responsible for hacking thousands of emails from Democrats and providing those stolen records to WikiLeaks. An investigation by and indictments from special counsel Robert Mueller bolstered this conclusion, though Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump and the Russians.
Republicans asked Wray about discipline for FBI employees involved in the missteps and abuses outlined in Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s bombshell FISA report. The FBI director called the actions in the report “unacceptable” and said every current FBI employee mentioned in the report had been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility for a disciplinary review.
Wray repeatedly suggested that Durham might take further action against the FBI leadership from the time of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation in 2016.
“Are all the individuals and agents and supervisors that were involved in all of these abuses … have they resigned or been fired or been removed from their position?” Rep. Greg Steube of Florida asked.
“At the more senior level of the FBI, the people involved I think in every respect I can think of are gone from the FBI,” Wray said. “And of course, there is an ongoing investigation by Mr. Durham, with which we’re actively cooperating and fully cooperating, I might add.”
Former bureau leaders such as FBI Director James Comey, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and FBI special agent Peter Strzok have been fired from the bureau in the past few years.
“You use the word ‘unacceptable’ — I would think you would find a stronger word for that over what has happened by the actions of people who sullied the reputations of every decent person at the FBI,” Rep. Tom McClintock of California said.
“For the current employees, the vast majority of the people involved in the conduct that you’re describing are no longer with the investigation, so they’re not subject to our disciplinary process in the first place,” Wray replied. “But there is, of course, as you know, the ongoing John Durham investigation, which we’ve been cooperating with fully as the attorney general himself has said. So I look forward to hopefully having another hearing with you at some point where we can have a very different conversation about the FBI.”
Attorney General William Barr and Durham broke with Horowitz on whether the bureau’s Trump-Russia investigation was properly predicated.
Horowitz said he “did not find documentary or testimonial evidence of intentional misconduct” from the FBI agents and supervisors involved in the FISA process but “also did not receive satisfactory explanations for the errors or problems we identified.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Former bartender who now serves in Congress says America’s bootstrap mentality is a cruel joke

A powerful U.S. representative who was an anonymous bartender not even two years ago is not a fan of America ’ s bootstrap mentality .
For Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , the idiom about being self-made is a cruel joke , one that perpetuates economic injustice .
There are no mirrors in Congress , apparently .
“ You know this idea and this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke ?
” the congresswoman said this week during a hearing on the White House ’ s poverty policies .
She added : “ Because it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a bootstrap , by your shoelaces .
It ’ s physically impossible .
The whole thing is a joke !
” A brief aside : To “ pull yourself up by your bootstraps ” is an idiom , not a metaphor .
Ocasio-Cortez ’ s remarks came amid a larger discussion about recently proposed legislation to measure poverty in America .
“ We ’ re just talking about recognizing poverty , ” Ocasio-Cortez said of the proposed measure , “ and there is resistance to doing that .
Why ?
Why ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recognize the level of poverty in this country because if we did , it would be a national scandal.
” For the record , the United States already measures poverty .
It has done so for decades .
The congresswoman continued , referencing the hardships she suffered when she rose from obscurity to power .
“ My first three months here in Congress , I slept on an air mattress and walked to work , and people made fun of me because I couldn ’ t afford a second apartment , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s with all the privileges bestowed upon this office.
” “ Seven million people have not been lifted off of food stamps in this country , they were kicked off stamps in this country , ” she claimed .
“ And people are going hungry !
They are going hungry !
” This bit about people being kicked off of food stamps is also a falsehood .
The Trump administration has proposed new work requirements that will lead many to lose their benefits , but those requirements have not gone into effect yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Read past the headline . )
Putting aside the factual inaccuracies , it is astonishing to hear Ocasio-Cortez , of all people , decry the bootstrap mindset .
She is the poster child for the rags-to-riches mentality that she suggests now is part of a heartless joke .
The congresswoman herself brags of a supposedly hardscrabble background .
She went from waiting tables and tending bar , hustling hard to pay the bills , to being one of the most visible members of the U.S. House of Representatives .
And she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is beloved by the news media , she has a massive social media presence , and she serves as a top , hotly sought-after surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ s 2020 presidential campaign .
No , Ocasio-Cortez did not literally act out an idiom to become a member of Congress .
But that she is apparently too dim-witted to recognize that she is living proof of the mentality she now denounces leads me to wonder whether she has actually tried to literally , physically lift herself by her shoelaces .

A powerful U.S. representative who was an anonymous bartender not even two years ago is not a fan of America’s bootstrap mentality. For Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the idiom about being self-made is a cruel joke, one that perpetuates economic injustice.
There are no mirrors in Congress, apparently.
“You know this idea and this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke?” the congresswoman said this week during a hearing on the White House’s poverty policies.
She added: “Because it is a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces. It’s physically impossible. The whole thing is a joke!”
A brief aside: To “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is an idiom, not a metaphor.
Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks came amid a larger discussion about recently proposed legislation to measure poverty in America.
“We’re just talking about recognizing poverty,” Ocasio-Cortez said of the proposed measure, “and there is resistance to doing that. Why? Why? I believe that we do not want to recognize the level of poverty in this country because if we did, it would be a national scandal.”
For the record, the United States already measures poverty. It has done so for decades.
The congresswoman continued, referencing the hardships she suffered when she rose from obscurity to power.
“My first three months here in Congress, I slept on an air mattress and walked to work, and people made fun of me because I couldn’t afford a second apartment,” she said. “And that’s with all the privileges bestowed upon this office.”
Ocasio-Cortez went on, growing increasingly agitated.
“Seven million people have not been lifted off of food stamps in this country, they were kicked off stamps in this country,” she claimed. “And people are going hungry! They are going hungry!”
This bit about people being kicked off of food stamps is also a falsehood. The Trump administration has proposed new work requirements that will lead many to lose their benefits, but those requirements have not gone into effect yet, as noted here by Mother Jones. (Read past the headline.)
Putting aside the factual inaccuracies, it is astonishing to hear Ocasio-Cortez, of all people, decry the bootstrap mindset. She is the poster child for the rags-to-riches mentality that she suggests now is part of a heartless joke. The congresswoman herself brags of a supposedly hardscrabble background. She went from waiting tables and tending bar, hustling hard to pay the bills, to being one of the most visible members of the U.S. House of Representatives. And she is not just some backbencher! She is beloved by the news media, she has a massive social media presence, and she serves as a top, hotly sought-after surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign.
No, Ocasio-Cortez did not literally act out an idiom to become a member of Congress. But that she is apparently too dim-witted to recognize that she is living proof of the mentality she now denounces leads me to wonder whether she has actually tried to literally, physically lift herself by her shoelaces.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump fires starter gun on election campaign, condemning impeachment

President Trump set the stage for a harsh campaign season as he celebrated his Senate acquittal by railing against his Democratic foes and their “ evil ” impeachment .
Trump launched a stream of invective as he delivered a rally-style speech in the East Room that lasted an hour and three minutes without using a teleprompter .
“ We 've been going through this now for almost three years .
It was evil .
It was corrupt , ” he said .
“ This should never , ever happen to another president , ever.
” He described the Russia probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim at favorite targets from James Comey and Nancy Pelosi ( a `` horrible person '' ) to the two FBI agents caught by their anti-Trump texts .
And he paid tribute to the House members and senators who rallied to his defense .
“ Today is the day to celebrate these great warriors , ” he said , warning his partisan audience to be ready for future impeachment threats .
His unleashed fury suggests a reelection campaign strategy that will paint him as the victim of an attempted coup , mobilizing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he barrels toward November ’ s election .
“ Not just portraying him as victim but an ad hominem campaign , ” said Rich Galen , a veteran Republican strategist .
“ He ’ s on a roll .
All the numbers are good .
There ’ s a lot of good stuff he can run on , but he can ’ t stop himself belittling his opponents . ''
It dashes hopes that the end of the impeachment trial might have meant the end to a bitterly divisive period in politics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign to take back control of the House through a backlash against the “ impeachment hoax.
” This week , senior administration officials talked up an “ optimistic ” State of the Union address and described forward-looking plans for bipartisan efforts for infrastructure investment and healthcare reform .
“ He wants to work with Democrats , ” said one official , “ if they ’ ll let him.
” Matt Schlapp , who chairs the American Conservative Union and who was singled out for praise in the speech , said Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who had been under investigation from Day One of his presidency .
“ I ’ m sure he got lots of advice that he should take the high road , look forward , not to the past , but the man doesn ’ t operate that way , '' Schlapp said .
`` As he said probably five or six times , he wants to make sure this doesn ’ t happen again.
” Trump said that if impeachment `` happened once , it can happen again , '' suggesting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street the wrong way .
“ Because if they find that I happen to walk across the street and maybe go against the light or something , let ’ s impeach him , ” he said .
“ So we ’ ll probably have to do it again because these people have gone stone-cold crazy .
But I ’ ve beaten them all my life , and I ’ ll beat them again if I have to.
” The East Room appearance struck a very different tone than the State of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on his achievements .
He closed Thursday by offering an apology to his family for having to endure a “ phony , rotten deal.
” “ We 've all been through a lot together , and we probably deserve that hand for all of us because it 's been a very unfair situation , '' the president said ,

President Trump set the stage for a harsh campaign season as he celebrated his Senate acquittal by railing against his Democratic foes and their “evil” impeachment.
Trump launched a stream of invective as he delivered a rally-style speech in the East Room that lasted an hour and three minutes without using a teleprompter.
“We've been going through this now for almost three years. It was evil. It was corrupt,” he said. “This should never, ever happen to another president, ever.”
He described the Russia probe as "all bullshit" and took aim at favorite targets from James Comey and Nancy Pelosi (a "horrible person") to the two FBI agents caught by their anti-Trump texts.
And he paid tribute to the House members and senators who rallied to his defense.
“Today is the day to celebrate these great warriors,” he said, warning his partisan audience to be ready for future impeachment threats.
His unleashed fury suggests a reelection campaign strategy that will paint him as the victim of an attempted coup, mobilizing his base’s anger against opponents as he barrels toward November’s election.
“Not just portraying him as victim but an ad hominem campaign,” said Rich Galen, a veteran Republican strategist.
“He’s on a roll. All the numbers are good. There’s a lot of good stuff he can run on, but he can’t stop himself belittling his opponents."
It dashes hopes that the end of the impeachment trial might have meant the end to a bitterly divisive period in politics. And he set the stage for a campaign to take back control of the House through a backlash against the “impeachment hoax.”
This week, senior administration officials talked up an “optimistic” State of the Union address and described forward-looking plans for bipartisan efforts for infrastructure investment and healthcare reform.
“He wants to work with Democrats,” said one official, “if they’ll let him.”
Matt Schlapp, who chairs the American Conservative Union and who was singled out for praise in the speech, said Trump’s approach bore the hallmark of honesty for a man who had been under investigation from Day One of his presidency.
“I’m sure he got lots of advice that he should take the high road, look forward, not to the past, but the man doesn’t operate that way," Schlapp said. "As he said probably five or six times, he wants to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Trump said that if impeachment "happened once, it can happen again," suggesting that Democrats would try to impeach him crossing the street the wrong way.
“Because if they find that I happen to walk across the street and maybe go against the light or something, let’s impeach him,” he said. “So we’ll probably have to do it again because these people have gone stone-cold crazy. But I’ve beaten them all my life, and I’ll beat them again if I have to.”
The East Room appearance struck a very different tone than the State of the Union address two days earlier, which focused on his achievements.
He closed Thursday by offering an apology to his family for having to endure a “phony, rotten deal.”
“We've all been through a lot together, and we probably deserve that hand for all of us because it's been a very unfair situation," the president said,


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--'Very proud of his body': Trump razzes Jim Jordan for not wearing suit coat

President Trump ribbed Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for not wearing a suit coat on a regular basis , suggesting he likes to wear only a shirt and tie because it displays a built upper body .
`` When I first got to know Jim Jordan , I said , huh ?
He never wears a jacket , '' Trump said during a speech at the White House on Thursday .
`` What the hell is going on ?
He ’ s obviously very proud of his body . ''
Jordan often appears at congressional hearings and on cable news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rare occasions that Jordan does wear a coat , Capitol Hill reporters have reported it as news .
Jordan is one of Trump 's staunchest defenders in the House , which is controlled by the Democrats .
`` They forgot about the facts , and they forgot about fairness , '' he said last week about Democrats ' impeachment of Trump .
`` Democrats do n't care .
Guess what ?
When you drain the swamp , the swamp fights back . ''
Trump took a victory lap on Thursday after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
He thanked Jordan and other members of the Republican Party , who defended him against the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
`` Look at that guy , '' Trump said .
`` He looks tough .
This guy was a champion top wrestler . ''

President Trump ribbed Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for not wearing a suit coat on a regular basis, suggesting he likes to wear only a shirt and tie because it displays a built upper body.
"When I first got to know Jim Jordan, I said, huh? He never wears a jacket," Trump said during a speech at the White House on Thursday. "What the hell is going on? He’s obviously very proud of his body."
Jordan often appears at congressional hearings and on cable news without wearing a suit coat.
On the rare occasions that Jordan does wear a coat, Capitol Hill reporters have reported it as news.
Jim Jordan is wearing a jacket today FYI. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 6, 2020
Also note for ourselves and our posterity that @Jim_Jordan does in fact own a suit jacket. https://t.co/t0tnK4qGhE — Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) February 6, 2020
A parody Twitter account called "Jim Jordan's Jacket" has nearly 4,000 followers.
I'll keep you abreast of what happens... https://t.co/zhxj1v7NPR — Jim Jordan's Jacket (@JJordansJacket) December 11, 2019
Jordan is one of Trump's staunchest defenders in the House, which is controlled by the Democrats.
"They forgot about the facts, and they forgot about fairness," he said last week about Democrats' impeachment of Trump. "Democrats don't care. Guess what? When you drain the swamp, the swamp fights back."
Trump took a victory lap on Thursday after he was acquitted by the Senate the day before. He thanked Jordan and other members of the Republican Party, who defended him against the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
"Look at that guy," Trump said. "He looks tough. This guy was a champion top wrestler."
"Heh, he never wears a jacket. What the hell's going on?
[@Jim_Jordan is] obviously very proud of his body."
–@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/1ugNwnV0Yo — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 6, 2020


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump 'apoplectic' in call with Boris Johnson over Huawei decision

President Trump unleashed on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the United Kingdom ’ s decision to allow controversial Chinese technology firm Huawei to supply portions of its 5G wireless network .
The leaders spoke last week after the British government defied the United States in allowing Huawei to build noncore elements of the network .
The U.S. has accused Huawei of having ties to China ’ s Communist Party and warned that equipment could be used by the Chinese state to spy on countries .
An individual briefed on the conversation told the Financial Times that Trump was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official said the call was “ very difficult.
” British officials said they were shocked by Trump ’ s language toward Johnson .
After the decision , Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration made its disappointment “ very clear ” to its British counterparts .
In its readout of the call , the White House said the two leaders “ discussed critical regional and bilateral issues , including telecommunications security.
” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to downplay any tensions between the countries , saying that “ good friends don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American officials had threatened to stop sharing intelligence with allies who did not ban the company from their next-generation networks .
[ Read more : 'We ca n't hold back ' : British telecommunications executive urges Europe to go easy on Huawei ]

President Trump unleashed on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the United Kingdom’s decision to allow controversial Chinese technology firm Huawei to supply portions of its 5G wireless network.
The leaders spoke last week after the British government defied the United States in allowing Huawei to build noncore elements of the network. The U.S. has accused Huawei of having ties to China’s Communist Party and warned that equipment could be used by the Chinese state to spy on countries.
An individual briefed on the conversation told the Financial Times that Trump was “apoplectic” about the decision. Another official said the call was “very difficult.” British officials said they were shocked by Trump’s language toward Johnson.
After the decision, Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration made its disappointment “very clear” to its British counterparts.
In its readout of the call, the White House said the two leaders “discussed critical regional and bilateral issues, including telecommunications security.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to downplay any tensions between the countries, saying that “good friends don’t always agree on everything.”
American officials had threatened to stop sharing intelligence with allies who did not ban the company from their next-generation networks.
[Read more: 'We can't hold back': British telecommunications executive urges Europe to go easy on Huawei]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Trump tells Steve Scalise he is 'better looking now' after being shot in 2017

President Trump told House Minority Whip Steve Scalise he is `` more handsome '' after being shot in 2017 .
The Louisiana Republican got a shoutout during a White House event Thursday as Trump lauded lawmakers who defended him during the Senate impeachment trial , which resulted in acquittal .
He brought up the aftermath of the shooting at a practice for the 2017 Congressional Baseball Game , where Scalise was seriously wounded , recounting a trip he took to the hospital with first lady Melania Trump to check on the congressman .
`` She was inconsolable , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood by her husband 's side as he was in critical condition , before bringing up the congressman 's looks .
`` Honestly , I think you 're better looking now .
You 're more handsome now .
You were n't that good looking .
You look good now .
He looks better now .
Can you believe it ? ''
the president said , prompting applause for Scalise .
Trump later somberly stated , `` Steve was really hit badly in the stomach .
And with a bullet that rips you apart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump complimented the congressman 's perseverance , but jokingly ended the story by mocking Scalise 's ability to pitch a ball .
`` Steve had no range , '' Trump joked .
`` I do n't know who the hell put you on the field ! ''
Scalise , 54 , made a triumphant return to the annual congressional charity baseball game in the summer of 2018 , one year after being shot in the hip .

President Trump told House Minority Whip Steve Scalise he is "more handsome" after being shot in 2017.
The Louisiana Republican got a shoutout during a White House event Thursday as Trump lauded lawmakers who defended him during the Senate impeachment trial, which resulted in acquittal.
He brought up the aftermath of the shooting at a practice for the 2017 Congressional Baseball Game, where Scalise was seriously wounded, recounting a trip he took to the hospital with first lady Melania Trump to check on the congressman.
"She was inconsolable," Trump said of Scalise's wife, who stood by her husband's side as he was in critical condition, before bringing up the congressman's looks.
"Honestly, I think you're better looking now. You're more handsome now. You weren't that good looking. You look good now. He looks better now. Can you believe it?" the president said, prompting applause for Scalise.
Trump later somberly stated, "Steve was really hit badly in the stomach. And with a bullet that rips you apart ... It rips you apart." Trump complimented the congressman's perseverance, but jokingly ended the story by mocking Scalise's ability to pitch a ball.
"Steve had no range," Trump joked. "I don't know who the hell put you on the field!"
Scalise, 54, made a triumphant return to the annual congressional charity baseball game in the summer of 2018, one year after being shot in the hip.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--Hillary Clinton on vice president run: ‘Never say never’

Hillary Clinton said she isn ’ t running for president , but she reluctantly conceded an openness to being on someone else 's ticket .
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres asked Clinton , 72 , on Thursday whether she would run as vice president if the eventual Democratic Party nominee asked her .
“ Well , that ’ s not going to happen , ” Clinton laughed .
“ But no , probably no.
” Clinton recalled that she turned former President Barack Obama down twice when he asked her to be secretary of state .
“ I never say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my country , but it ’ s not going to happen , ” she said .
The former secretary of state revealed in November that she was receiving a number of calls urging her to rethink her decision to sit out of the 2020 race .
`` As I say , never , never , never say never , '' the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee said when asked if she was ruling out a future in public office .
`` I will certainly tell you , I 'm under enormous pressure from many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it , '' Clinton said .
`` But as of this moment , sitting here in this studio talking to you , that is absolutely not in my plans .
”

Hillary Clinton said she isn’t running for president, but she reluctantly conceded an openness to being on someone else's ticket.
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres asked Clinton, 72, on Thursday whether she would run as vice president if the eventual Democratic Party nominee asked her.
“Well, that’s not going to happen,” Clinton laughed. “But no, probably no.”
Clinton recalled that she turned former President Barack Obama down twice when he asked her to be secretary of state.
“I never say never because I do believe in serving my country, but it’s not going to happen,” she said.
The former secretary of state revealed in November that she was receiving a number of calls urging her to rethink her decision to sit out of the 2020 race.
"As I say, never, never, never say never," the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee said when asked if she was ruling out a future in public office.
"I will certainly tell you, I'm under enormous pressure from many, many, many people to think about it," Clinton said. "But as of this moment, sitting here in this studio talking to you, that is absolutely not in my plans.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--‘It was all bullshit’: Trump rips Mueller investigation in impeachment acquittal ‘celebration’

President Trump reflected on the two-year-long investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller that preempted two Ukraine-related articles of impeachment during a “ celebration ” for his acquittal .
During a news conference on Thursday , Trump , 73 , condemned Democrats for the slew of investigations into his presidency , the latest of which led to him being on Thursday .
He also zeroed in on the Russia investigation looking at possible collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia that triggered early calls for Trump to be impeached .
“ We were treated unbelievably unfairly , and you have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , Russia .
It was all bullshit , ” Trump said in the East Room of the White House .
Trump later added , “ We ended up winning on Russia , Russia , Russia .
It should have taken the one day , as I said , and it took years .
Then , Bob Mueller testified .
That didn ’ t work out so well for the other side.
” As Trump noted , Mueller ’ s report of criminal conspiracy with Russia .
Many Republicans felt Trump was vindicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt he obstructed justice and called for his impeachment .
Trump ’ s eventual impeachment , which began last year , was sparked by a whistleblower complaint about a July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he pressed for investigations into his political rivals .
This was not the that Trump called Mueller ’ s report “ bullshit.
” He also used the term to describe the investigation while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2019 .

President Trump reflected on the two-year-long investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller that preempted two Ukraine-related articles of impeachment during a “celebration” for his acquittal.
During a news conference on Thursday, Trump, 73, condemned Democrats for the slew of investigations into his presidency, the latest of which led to him being acquitted by the Senate on Thursday. He also zeroed in on the Russia investigation looking at possible collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia that triggered early calls for Trump to be impeached.
“We were treated unbelievably unfairly, and you have to understand we first went through Russia, Russia, Russia. It was all bullshit,” Trump said in the East Room of the White House.
Trump later added, “We ended up winning on Russia, Russia, Russia. It should have taken the one day, as I said, and it took years. Then, Bob Mueller testified. That didn’t work out so well for the other side.”
As Trump noted, Mueller’s report cleared his campaign of criminal conspiracy with Russia. Many Republicans felt Trump was vindicated by the report, while several Democrats felt he obstructed justice and called for his impeachment.
Trump’s eventual impeachment, which began last year, was sparked by a whistleblower complaint about a July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he pressed for investigations into his political rivals.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-06--WATCH: President Trump delivers remarks after Senate impeachment acquittal

President Trump is expected to give a victory speech following his acquittal by the Senate on two articles of impeachment @ @ @ @ @ .
After the House impeached the president for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress @ @ @ @ @ voted Wednesday to acquit him of both charges , with Sen. Mitt Romney being the @ @ @ @ @ party lines .

President Trump is expected to give a victory speech following his acquittal by the Senate on two articles of impeachment at noon EST on Thursday.
After the House impeached the president for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress last year, the Senate voted Wednesday to acquit him of both charges, with Sen. Mitt Romney being the only Republican lawmaker to break party lines.