politicususa--2020-12-31--Fauci Says His Top Priority with the Biden Administration is to “Expeditiously Get People Vaccinated

Fauci Says His Top Priority with the Biden Administration is to “Expeditiously Get People Vaccinated”

Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s leading coronavirus expert , says his top priority working with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s administration will be “ to expeditiously get people vaccinated ” against COVID-19 .
“ The first one is to expeditiously get people vaccinated , there ’ s no doubt about that .
To me that is the critical issue .
You know , if we didn ’ t have the tools , I ’ d say ‘ well , let ’ s get the tools.
’ We have the tools , so we ’ ve just got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsweek when asked to list his priorities for working with the incoming administration .
“ We know what our path is ahead of us .
We ’ ve got to get as many people as possible vaccinated .
We are fortunate enough to have at least two , and likely more , highly efficacious vaccines , ” he added .
“ The real challenge is getting everybody vaccinated as quickly as you possibly can .
Once we do that , we can end this outbreak .
So we know what the end game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to implement it.
” There are already two coronavirus vaccines on the American market––one from Pfizer and one from Moderna––and Fauci says he expects more to be approved next year .
“ We ’ re already committed to developing six of them [ COVID-19 vaccines ] .
Five of them are already in trial , one of them is going into a phase three trial very soon , maybe today [ Monday ] or tomorrow [ Tuesday ] .
I think we ’ re going to get multiple approvals of vaccines in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m sure we ’ ll get additional ones besides the Moderna and Pfizer [ vaccines ] .
” Earlier this week , President-elect Biden criticized President Donald Trump ’ s administration for lagging its feet on the vaccine rollout .
Roughly 2.8 million people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine , though the Trump administration had pleaded that 20 million would be vaccinated by the end of December .
“ This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we ’ ve ever faced as a nation , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Delaware , “ but we ’ re going to get it done.
” The Covid-19 Data Tracker maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) also “ most likely reflects a reporting lag of several days , ” according to The New York Times .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading coronavirus expert, says his top priority working with President-elect Joe Biden‘s administration will be “to expeditiously get people vaccinated” against COVID-19.
“The first one is to expeditiously get people vaccinated, there’s no doubt about that. To me that is the critical issue. You know, if we didn’t have the tools, I’d say ‘well, let’s get the tools.’ We have the tools, so we’ve just got to implement them,” Fauci told Newsweek when asked to list his priorities for working with the incoming administration.
“We know what our path is ahead of us. We’ve got to get as many people as possible vaccinated. We are fortunate enough to have at least two, and likely more, highly efficacious vaccines,” he added. “The real challenge is getting everybody vaccinated as quickly as you possibly can. Once we do that, we can end this outbreak. So we know what the end game is, we’ve just got to implement it.”
There are already two coronavirus vaccines on the American market––one from Pfizer and one from Moderna––and Fauci says he expects more to be approved next year.
“We’re already committed to developing six of them [COVID-19 vaccines]. Five of them are already in trial, one of them is going into a phase three trial very soon, maybe today [Monday] or tomorrow [Tuesday]. I think we’re going to get multiple approvals of vaccines in the first several months of 2021. I’m sure we’ll get additional ones besides the Moderna and Pfizer [vaccines].”
Earlier this week, President-elect Biden criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for lagging its feet on the vaccine rollout. Roughly 2.8 million people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, though the Trump administration had pleaded that 20 million would be vaccinated by the end of December.
“This is going to be the greatest operational challenge we’ve ever faced as a nation,” Biden said during an address in Wilmington, Delaware, “but we’re going to get it done.”
The Covid-19 Data Tracker maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also “most likely reflects a reporting lag of several days,” according to The New York Times.


politicususa--2020-01-31--Mike Pence Falls Apart As Doctor Confronts Him On Medicaid Cuts

Dr .
Rob Davidson confronted Mike Pence about the Trump administration ’ s plan to cut Medicaid , and the Vice President deflected , lied , and fell apart .
Dr. Davidson is a doctor who treats patients who rely on Medicaid in Michigan confronted Pence on the administration ’ s proposal to block grant Medicaid .
Pence first denies knowledge of the proposal , then falsely claimed that the change only applied to states that didn ’ t expand Medicaid , then laughably claimed that cutting federal funding to Medicaid would expand the program .
Here is part two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the video , Pence disagreed with the factual statement that cutting funds for Medicaid results in fewer people having coverage .
Pence fell apart and couldn ’ t justify the administration ’ s cuts to Medicaid .
The video illustrated why healthcare will be a powerful issue in the election .
Every person who loses their coverage under Trump is a potential Democratic voter in 2020 .
Pence was flailing and lost , as he had no defense for a plan that could cost millions of Americans their health insurance .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Dr. Rob Davidson confronted Mike Pence about the Trump administration’s plan to cut Medicaid, and the Vice President deflected, lied, and fell apart.
Part one of Dr. Davidson’s video:
1/2 I just ran into @VP Mike Pence at the Drake Diner in Des Moines. I confronted him about his damaging health care cuts because for me it's not about politics, it's about saving lives.#DrakeUniversity #IowaCaucus #TrumpRallyIA #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/LuXQcl9GVn — Dr. Rob Davidson (@DrRobDavidson) January 31, 2020
Dr. Davidson is a doctor who treats patients who rely on Medicaid in Michigan confronted Pence on the administration’s proposal to block grant Medicaid. Pence first denies knowledge of the proposal, then falsely claimed that the change only applied to states that didn’t expand Medicaid, then laughably claimed that cutting federal funding to Medicaid would expand the program.
Here is part two of the video:
2/2 When I told him he is putting my patients' lives at risk, @VP deflected and denied knowledge of the policy. He either doesn't understand, or doesn't care about the impact of this administrations' policies on patients everywhere. pic.twitter.com/HcE1XYfUTj — Dr. Rob Davidson (@DrRobDavidson) January 31, 2020
In this section of the video, Pence disagreed with the factual statement that cutting funds for Medicaid results in fewer people having coverage.
Pence fell apart and couldn’t justify the administration’s cuts to Medicaid. The video illustrated why healthcare will be a powerful issue in the election. Every person who loses their coverage under Trump is a potential Democratic voter in 2020.
Pence was flailing and lost, as he had no defense for a plan that could cost millions of Americans their health insurance.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Trump Tells Iowa Farmers To Reelect Him, Or Their Farms Will Go To Hell

Completely ignoring the damage that his trade war has done , Trump warned Iowa farmers that if he isn ’ t reelected their farms will go to hell .
Trump said , “ And if we don ’ t win , your farms are going to hell .
I can tell you right now .
Sell , sell .
They ’ ll be saying sell .
No , we love our farmers.
” Trump loves farmers so much that farm bankruptcies jumped twenty percent last year , “ US farm bankruptcies were up 20 % in 2019 , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has paid to farmers hurt by the trade war with China .
That ’ s the highest level since 2011 , following the Great Recession , according to court data analyzed by the American Farm Bureau .
There were 595 Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies , nearly 100 more than in 2018 , the trade group said.
” Many farmers don ’ t have to worry about their farms going to hell .
Thanks to Donald Trump , their farms are already gone forever .
Trump is trying to scare farmers into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them will , even though he made them all suffer from a trade war that he lost .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Completely ignoring the damage that his trade war has done, Trump warned Iowa farmers that if he isn’t reelected their farms will go to hell.
Trump said, “And if we don’t win, your farms are going to hell. I can tell you right now. Sell, sell. They’ll be saying sell. No, we love our farmers.”
Video:
In Iowa, Trump threatens his fans that their farms will “go to hell” if he isn’t re-elected. pic.twitter.com/SbDJ9h9P9Q — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 31, 2020
Trump loves farmers so much that farm bankruptcies jumped twenty percent last year, “US farm bankruptcies were up 20% in 2019, despite the billions of dollars in aid President Donald Trump has paid to farmers hurt by the trade war with China. That’s the highest level since 2011, following the Great Recession, according to court data analyzed by the American Farm Bureau. There were 595 Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies, nearly 100 more than in 2018, the trade group said.”
Many farmers don’t have to worry about their farms going to hell. Thanks to Donald Trump, their farms are already gone forever.
Trump is trying to scare farmers into supporting him in 2020, and most of them will, even though he made them all suffer from a trade war that he lost.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Adam Schiff Just Obliterated Trump’s Favorite Conspiracy Theory

Adam Schiff took apart Trump ’ s baseless smear that Joe Biden got a prosecutor in Ukraine fired to protect his son .
The reason why Joe Biden is not material to these proceedings , the reason why this is a baseless smear is that the issue is not whether Hunter Biden should have sat on that board or not sat on that board .
The issue is not whether Hunter Biden was properly compensated or improperly compensated or whether he speaks Ukrainian or he doesn ’ t speak Ukrainian .
What the president asked for was an investigation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden is that he so the to fire a prosecutor because he was trying to protect his son .
I guess that ’ s the nature of the allegation .
And that is a baseless smear .
As we demonstrated , as the unequivocal testimony in the House demonstrated , when the vice president so the dismissal of a corrupt and incompetent prosecutor it had nothing to do with Hunter Biden ’ s position on the board .
It had everything to do with the fact the State Department , our allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unanimous agreement that this prosecutor was corrupt .
And the uncontradicted testimony was also that in getting rid of that prosecutor , it would increase the chances of real corruption prosecutions going forward , not that it would decrease them .
So the sham is this .
The sham is that Joe Biden did something wrong when he followed United States policy .
When he did what he was asked to do by our European allies .
When he did what he was asked to do by international financial institutions .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that this crowd strike kooky conspiracy theory that the Ukrainians , not the Russians , hacked the DNC and that someone whisked this server away to Ukraine to hide it .
That is Russian intelligence propaganda .
And , yes , it ’ s a sham .
And it ’ s worse than a sham .
It ’ s a Russian propaganda coup is what it is .
Thank god , Putin says , that they ’ re not talking about Russian interference anymore .
They ’ re talking about Ukrainian interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , isn ’ t it possible that two countries interfered ?
But you heard what our own director of the FBI , Christopher Wray , said .
There is no evidence of Ukrainian interference in our election .
There is no evidence , so , yes , I think we can cite the FBI director for the proposition that that ’ s a sham .
Schiff went after three of Trump ’ s favorite conspiracies .
He took apart the false claim of Biden corruption , Ukraine interference in the election , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BS .
All of it is designed to blame someone else for Trump ’ s corruption and Russian election interference .
It may fool Republicans , but it isn ’ t fooling the rest of the country .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Adam Schiff took apart Trump’s baseless smear that Joe Biden got a prosecutor in Ukraine fired to protect his son.
Schiff said:
The reason why Joe Biden is not material to these proceedings, the reason why this is a baseless smear is that the issue is not whether Hunter Biden should have sat on that board or not sat on that board. The issue is not whether Hunter Biden was properly compensated or improperly compensated or whether he speaks Ukrainian or he doesn’t speak Ukrainian. What the president asked for was an investigation of Joe Biden.
And the smear against Joe Biden is that he so the to fire a prosecutor because he was trying to protect his son. I guess that’s the nature of the allegation. And that is a baseless smear. As we demonstrated, as the unequivocal testimony in the House demonstrated, when the vice president so the dismissal of a corrupt and incompetent prosecutor it had nothing to do with Hunter Biden’s position on the board.
Video:
Adam Schiff tears apart the baseless smear against Joe Biden. #ImpeachmentTrial pic.twitter.com/Vb1qIsNuq6 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 31, 2020
It had everything to do with the fact the State Department, our allies, the International Monetary Fund were in unanimous agreement that this prosecutor was corrupt. And the uncontradicted testimony was also that in getting rid of that prosecutor, it would increase the chances of real corruption prosecutions going forward, not that it would decrease them. So the sham is this. The sham is that Joe Biden did something wrong when he followed United States policy. When he did what he was asked to do by our European allies.
When he did what he was asked to do by international financial institutions. And the other sham is the Russian propaganda sham, that this crowd strike kooky conspiracy theory that the Ukrainians, not the Russians, hacked the DNC and that someone whisked this server away to Ukraine to hide it. That is Russian intelligence propaganda. And, yes, it’s a sham. And it’s worse than a sham. It’s a Russian propaganda coup is what it is.
Thank god, Putin says, that they’re not talking about Russian interference anymore. They’re talking about Ukrainian interference. Now, counsel says, well, isn’t it possible that two countries interfered? But you heard what our own director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, said. There is no evidence of Ukrainian interference in our election. There is no evidence, so, yes, I think we can cite the FBI director for the proposition that that’s a sham.
Schiff went after three of Trump’s favorite conspiracies. He took apart the false claim of Biden corruption, Ukraine interference in the election, and Crowdstrike server.
All of it is BS. All of it is designed to blame someone else for Trump’s corruption and Russian election interference. It may fool Republicans, but it isn’t fooling the rest of the country.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Trump Thinks That Stealth Bombers Are Really Invisible

Trump told people in Michigan today that he was going to send some stealth bombers to their local base , @ @ @ @ @ t be able to see them .
Trump made the same claim in 2018 : @ @ @ @ @ Trump can ’ t possibly move the intellectual bar any lower , he finds a @ @ @ @ @ of inaccurate information floating in Trump ’ s head , it is a certainty that @ @ @ @ @ possibly numerous times that stealth planes aren ’ t really invisible , but he has @ @ @ @ @ Stealth bombers aren ’ t invisible .
If he brought them in people could see @ @ @ @ @ s comments are another signal that he is neither stable nor a genius .
For @ @ @ @ @ join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Trump told people in Michigan today that he was going to send some stealth bombers to their local base, but the people wouldn’t be able to see them.
Trump said:
Trump says he might deploy some F-35s to a local air base, saying workers here will see them come in. He says, "Actually they're totally stealth, so maybe you won't see them come in. You won't see them come in." — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 30, 2020
Trump made the same claim in 2018:
Donald Trump thinks the F-35 is literally invisible (by @VicBergerIV) pic.twitter.com/h4T64Qus21 — Tatered (@tatered) July 31, 2018
Just when you think that Trump can’t possibly move the intellectual bar any lower, he finds a way. Like most pieces of inaccurate information floating in Trump’s head, it is a certainty that someone tried to tell him possibly numerous times that stealth planes aren’t really invisible, but he has refused to believe them.
Stealth bombers aren’t invisible. If he brought them in people could see them, but Trump’s comments are another signal that he is neither stable nor a genius.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Delusional Trump Says No Democrat Can Beat Him With African-Americans

Trump is so out of touch with reality that he thinks that no Democrat running for president in 2020 will beat him with African-Americans .
Trump said , “ There ’ s a revolution going on in this country .
I made a positive — I mean a positive revolution .
Hispanic American , Asian-American , we have the best numbers we ever had .
African-American — the poverty numbers are now reversed and they ’ re the best they ever had .
I don ’ t know how anybody could possibly beat me with that vote .
So we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a poll of African-Americans released in January of 2020 , 83 % of those surveyed said that Donald Trump is a racist .
Joe Biden is currently smoking the Democratic field with African-American voters , so if Biden or any other Democrat with a pulse is the nominee , they will beat Trump soundly with African-American voters .
African-American voters aren ’ t going to vote for Trump .
The fact that the president thinks that they will just shows how delusional he has become .
For more discussion about this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Trump is so out of touch with reality that he thinks that no Democrat running for president in 2020 will beat him with African-Americans.
Trump said, “There’s a revolution going on in this country. I made a positive — I mean a positive revolution. Hispanic American, Asian-American, we have the best numbers we ever had. African-American — the poverty numbers are now reversed and they’re the best they ever had. I don’t know how anybody could possibly beat me with that vote. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Video:
Trump claims no Democrat can beat him with African-Americans as the interview has slipped into total delusion. pic.twitter.com/T9ZTbNntsZ — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 2, 2020
In a poll of African-Americans released in January of 2020, 83% of those surveyed said that Donald Trump is a racist. Joe Biden is currently smoking the Democratic field with African-American voters, so if Biden or any other Democrat with a pulse is the nominee, they will beat Trump soundly with African-American voters.
African-American voters aren’t going to vote for Trump. The fact that the president thinks that they will just shows how delusional he has become.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Republicans Vow To Impeach Joe Biden If He Beats Trump

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) said that Republicans would impeach Joe Biden over Ukraine if he beats Trump in the 2020 election .
I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened , ” Ernst said in an interview with Bloomberg News .
“ Joe Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the day after he would be elected would be saying , ‘ Well , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The grounds for impeachment , the first-term Republican said , would be “ for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year.
” There are two problems with what Ernst is threatening .
Republicans aren ’ t going to win back the House in 2020 .
It has gotten so dire for House Republicans on the fundraising front that GOP donors are already switching over to the presidential and Senate races .
Secondly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge mistake .
The Ukraine conspiracy is bogus .
Joe Biden and his son did nothing wrong .
Joni Ernst is making dumb threats because she is on the verge of losing her seat .
The Senate can ’ t start an impeachment , so Ernest knows that Biden won ’ t be impeached on day one .
She is pathetically trying to stay in the Senate .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said that Republicans would impeach Joe Biden over Ukraine if he beats Trump in the 2020 election.
Bloomberg News reported:
I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened,” Ernst said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him.’
The grounds for impeachment, the first-term Republican said, would be “for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year.”
There are two problems with what Ernst is threatening. Republicans aren’t going to win back the House in 2020. It has gotten so dire for House Republicans on the fundraising front that GOP donors are already switching over to the presidential and Senate races.
Secondly, impeaching Biden for Ukraine would be a huge mistake. The Ukraine conspiracy is bogus. Joe Biden and his son did nothing wrong.
Joni Ernst is making dumb threats because she is on the verge of losing her seat. The Senate can’t start an impeachment, so Ernest knows that Biden won’t be impeached on day one. She is pathetically trying to stay in the Senate.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Trump Who Told Over 16,000 Lies In Office Says He Can’t Work With Pelosi and Schumer Because They Li

Trump Who Told Over 16,000 Lies In Office Says He Can’t Work With Pelosi and Schumer Because They Lie

During his Super Bowl interview with Sean Hannity , Trump said that he couldn ’ t work with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer because they lie .
Trump said when asked about working with Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer : Well , I ’ d like to , but it ’ s pretty hard when you think about it because it ’ s been such — I use the word witch-hunt , I use the word hoax .
I see the hatred , I see the — they don ’ t care about fairness .
They don ’ t care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies .
You look at the — you look at the reports that were done that were so false .
The level of hypocrisy .
I don ’ t think they can do it , to be honest .
They just want to win and I really believe this administration — me and this administration we have done more than any administration in the history of our country .
According to The Washington Post , Trump has made 16,241 false statements while in office .
Pelosi and Schumer have been fighting to expose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has spent his entire presidency lying .
Trump isn ’ t going to work with Pelosi and Schumer because he is mad at them over impeachment .
The president isn ’ t offering some grand political strategy .
The world ’ s oldest toddler is off in the corner pouting because he is upset that he will always and forever be impeached .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
During his Super Bowl interview with Sean Hannity, Trump said that he couldn’t work with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer because they lie.
Trump said when asked about working with Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer:
Well, I’d like to, but it’s pretty hard when you think about it because it’s been such — I use the word witch-hunt, I use the word hoax. I see the hatred, I see the — they don’t care about fairness. They don’t care about lying. You look at the lies.
You look at the — you look at the reports that were done that were so false. The level of hypocrisy. I don’t think they can do it, to be honest. They just want to win and I really believe this administration — me and this administration we have done more than any administration in the history of our country.
Video:
In a laughable moment, Trump claims that Pelosi and Schumer hate him and they lie. pic.twitter.com/sXgkulVJb4 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 2, 2020
According to The Washington Post, Trump has made 16,241 false statements while in office. Pelosi and Schumer have been fighting to expose the truth. It is Donald Trump who has spent his entire presidency lying.
Trump isn’t going to work with Pelosi and Schumer because he is mad at them over impeachment. The president isn’t offering some grand political strategy. The world’s oldest toddler is off in the corner pouting because he is upset that he will always and forever be impeached.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Trump Embarrasses Himself Whining About Impeachment In Super Bowl Interview

Far from a victory lap , Trump started his Super Bowl interview with a pity party over his impeachment for breaking the law .
Trump said : Well , it ’ s been very unfair from the day I won , and I really say from far — before the day I won , from the day I came down the escalator with our future first lady who is doing such a good job , to be honest with you , I think it ’ s — it ’ s probably — it probably started from there .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mueller report .
Russia Russia Russia .
As you say .
Which was total nonsense .
It was all nonsense .
The whole thing was nonsense .
But it was a very unfair and mostly it was unfair to my I mean , my family suffered because of all of this and many other families suffered also .
It was a very , very — it ’ s a very serious thing .
It should never happen to another president .
Everything that Trump said was a lie .
Impeachment began when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressionally appropriated aid from Ukraine in a bid to extort a foreign country into investigating Joe Biden .
Trump is trying to get rid of impeachment because he is a president who wants to rule unilaterally .
He is trying to destroy the power of the Legislative Branch to hold him accountable .
Trump wanted a victory , but instead , he and his pal Sean Hannity threw an embarrassing pity party for the entire nation to see .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Far from a victory lap, Trump started his Super Bowl interview with a pity party over his impeachment for breaking the law.
Trump said:
Well, it’s been very unfair from the day I won, and I really say from far — before the day I won, from the day I came down the escalator with our future first lady who is doing such a good job, to be honest with you, I think it’s — it’s probably — it probably started from there. It’s been a very, very unfair the Mueller report.
Russia Russia Russia. As you say. Which was total nonsense. It was all nonsense. The whole thing was nonsense. But it was a very unfair and mostly it was unfair to my I mean, my family suffered because of all of this and many other families suffered also. It was a very, very — it’s a very serious thing. It should never happen to another president.
Video:
Trump whines about impeachment in Super Bowl interview and claims that his family has suffered. pic.twitter.com/PrUR96e68u — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 2, 2020
Everything that Trump said was a lie. Impeachment began when it was discovered that Trump illegally withheld congressionally appropriated aid from Ukraine in a bid to extort a foreign country into investigating Joe Biden.
Trump is trying to get rid of impeachment because he is a president who wants to rule unilaterally. He is trying to destroy the power of the Legislative Branch to hold him accountable.
Trump wanted a victory, but instead, he and his pal Sean Hannity threw an embarrassing pity party for the entire nation to see.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Adam Schiff Hammers Republicans For Complaining About Their Own Rigged Trial

Adam Schiff wasn ’ t having any of the Republican complaints that the impeachment trial was unfair , because it was Senate Republicans who rigged the trial .
REP. SCHIFF : Well , look , I would only say with respect to Senator Murkowski and the other senators as well , they ’ re not mere spectators here .
When the senator laments that there ’ s not a fair trial in the Senate , it ’ s up to the senators to make it a fair trial .
It is within their power to make it a fair trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators saying no we ’ re going to demand a fair trial no matter what this president may say .
There would have been a fair trial .
There would have been witnesses and testimony– MARGARET BRENNAN : But is there anything you would have done differently ?
REP. SCHIFF : –So it ’ s not as if she was powerless to do something about this .
Look , there ’ s nothing that I can see that we could have done differently because as the senators have already admitted , we proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , the president ’ s lawyers have said time and again , I think , hoping through sheer repetition to make something true that is in fact untrue , that the process in this impeachment was different than in Nixon and Clinton .
In fact , the president had the same due process rights , which he did not avail himself of in this process as in the prior ones .
That is not an excuse that should be used by any senator for not fulfilling their obligation to hold a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators .
They have control over the proceedings .
And they could have insisted on witnesses and documents and for whatever reason , chose not to .
And for those who would say , well , let ’ s let the voters decide when the president is trying to cheat in that very election , and they don ’ t want the voters to have the full information , they want the president– REP. SCHIFF : — to continue to be able to cover it up .
That ’ s just completely unsatisfactory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints about the trial are bogus because they are the ones who approved the rules for the trial .
If Lisa Murkowski or any of the other Republican Senators wanted a fair trial , they could have had one by going to Mitch McConnell and refusing to vote for his sham trial .
Senate Republicans who are voting not to convict Trump are trying to distance themselves from their role as Trump accomplices .
The Senate Republican majority rigged the impeachment trial for Trump , and now they are going to have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Adam Schiff wasn’t having any of the Republican complaints that the impeachment trial was unfair, because it was Senate Republicans who rigged the trial.
Transcript via CBS’s Face The Nation:
REP. SCHIFF: Well, look, I would only say with respect to Senator Murkowski and the other senators as well, they’re not mere spectators here. When the senator laments that there’s not a fair trial in the Senate, it’s up to the senators to make it a fair trial. It is within their power to make it a fair trial with four votes, with four courageous senators saying no we’re going to demand a fair trial no matter what this president may say. There would have been a fair trial. There would have been witnesses and testimony–
MARGARET BRENNAN: But is there anything you would have done differently?
REP. SCHIFF: –So it’s not as if she was powerless to do something about this. Look, there’s nothing that I can see that we could have done differently because as the senators have already admitted, we proved our case. We proved our case. Now, the president’s lawyers have said time and again, I think, hoping through sheer repetition to make something true that is in fact untrue, that the process in this impeachment was different than in Nixon and Clinton. In fact, the president had the same due process rights, which he did not avail himself of in this process as in the prior ones. That is not an excuse that should be used by any senator for not fulfilling their obligation to hold a fair trial. They’re not spectators. They have control over the proceedings. And they could have insisted on witnesses and documents and for whatever reason, chose not to. And for those who would say, well, let’s let the voters decide when the president is trying to cheat in that very election, and they don’t want the voters to have the full information, they want the president–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
REP. SCHIFF: — to continue to be able to cover it up. That’s just completely unsatisfactory.
Video:
Chairman Schiff was right. Republican complaints about the trial are bogus because they are the ones who approved the rules for the trial. If Lisa Murkowski or any of the other Republican Senators wanted a fair trial, they could have had one by going to Mitch McConnell and refusing to vote for his sham trial.
Senate Republicans who are voting not to convict Trump are trying to distance themselves from their role as Trump accomplices.
The Senate Republican majority rigged the impeachment trial for Trump, and now they are going to have to live with the consequences of their decision.


politicususa--2020-02-02--Mitch McConnell Took Money From Trump Lawyers Before Impeachment Trial

Two of the president ’ s lawyers made large contributions to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell before the start of Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
According to the Center For Responsive Politics : Former independent counsels Ken Starr and Robert Ray , who investigated then-President Bill Clinton around the time of his impeachment , each made large campaign contributions to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) last year before joining Trump ’ s legal team .
Starr , who on Monday lambasted what he called the “ age of impeachment ” before the Senate , gave $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just after House Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry in September , Ray gave McConnell $ 5,600 , the maximum allowed for the primary and general elections .
OpenSecrets couldn ’ t identify any other federal contributions from the two during the 2020 cycle .
The contributions were seized on by one of the Democrats running against Mitch McConnell in Kentucky , Amy McGrath : Kentucky ’ s Republican voters who don ’ t like McConnell , but vote for him anyway , won ’ t be swayed by such obvious corruption , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in long before the impeachment trial began .
The trial was always going to be sham for political reasons , but that didn ’ t stop Trump ’ s lawyers from spending some cash to make sure that the dirty deal got done .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Two of the president’s lawyers made large contributions to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell before the start of Trump’s impeachment trial.
According to the Center For Responsive Politics:
Former independent counsels Ken Starr and Robert Ray, who investigated then-President Bill Clinton around the time of his impeachment, each made large campaign contributions to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) last year before joining Trump’s legal team.
Starr, who on Monday lambasted what he called the “age of impeachment” before the Senate, gave $2,800 to McConnell in July 2019. Just after House Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry in September, Ray gave McConnell $5,600, the maximum allowed for the primary and general elections. OpenSecrets couldn’t identify any other federal contributions from the two during the 2020 cycle.
The contributions were seized on by one of the Democrats running against Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, Amy McGrath:
Mitch recently took $8,400 in campaign contributions from two of the impeachment defense attorneys. Now, he's returning the favor by keeping witnesses from testifying in the trial. This is the pay-to-play swamp that Mitch created. #SenatorForSale https://t.co/dkRVjDh8FB — Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) January 31, 2020
Kentucky’s Republican voters who don’t like McConnell, but vote for him anyway, won’t be swayed by such obvious corruption, but McConnell made it clear that the fix was in long before the impeachment trial began.
The trial was always going to be sham for political reasons, but that didn’t stop Trump’s lawyers from spending some cash to make sure that the dirty deal got done.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-02--Lamar Alexander Argues Trump Is Too Stupid To Call Barr To Launch Biden Investigation

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) suggested that Trump was too dumb to call his own DOJ to launch a Biden investigation , so he broke the law instead .
Lamar Alexander Says Trump Is Too Dumb To Follow The Law Well , if you hooked up with Ukraine to wage war on the United States , as the first senator from Tennessee did , you could be expelled .
But this wasn ’ t that .
This was the kind — what the president should have done was , if he was upset about Joe Biden and his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he should have called the Attorney General and told him that and let the Attorney General handle it the way they always handle cases that involve public figures .
And why do you think he didn ’ t do that ?
Maybe he didn ’ t know to do it .
Okay , this has been a rationale that I ’ ve heard from a lot of Republicans .
“ Well , boy , he ’ s still new to this.
” Well , a lot of people come to — At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer new to this ?
Donald Trump is in his fourth year in office .
He is no longer new at being president .
Sen. Alexander left out the fact that Barr was involved in the Ukraine plot and is currently hiding incriminating evidence against the president .
If Trump is too stupid to follow the law , then he is incompetent and should not be president .
Ignorance is no excuse under the law , as the Republican excuses for not removing Trump from office are impossible to believe and insulting @

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) suggested that Trump was too dumb to call his own DOJ to launch a Biden investigation, so he broke the law instead.
Lamar Alexander Says Trump Is Too Dumb To Follow The Law
Transcript via Meet The Press:
SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER:
Well, if you hooked up with Ukraine to wage war on the United States, as the first senator from Tennessee did, you could be expelled. But this wasn’t that. This was the kind — what the president should have done was, if he was upset about Joe Biden and his son and what they were doing in Ukraine, he should have called the Attorney General and told him that and let the Attorney General handle it the way they always handle cases that involve public figures.
CHUCK TODD:
And why do you think he didn’t do that?
SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER:
Maybe he didn’t know to do it.
CHUCK TODD:
Okay, this has been a rationale that I’ve heard from a lot of Republicans. “Well, boy, he’s still new to this.”
SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER:
Well, a lot of people come to —
CHUCK TODD:
At what point, though, is he no longer new to this?
Video:
LAMAR ALEXANDER: If the president was upset with what the Bidens were doing in Ukraine, he should've called the attorney general CHUCK TODD: Why didn't he then? ALEXANDER: Maybe he didn't know to do it pic.twitter.com/nHqcSgm8ve — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2020
Trump Intentionally Broke The Law
Donald Trump is in his fourth year in office. He is no longer new at being president. Sen. Alexander left out the fact that Barr was involved in the Ukraine plot and is currently hiding incriminating evidence against the president.
If Trump is too stupid to follow the law, then he is incompetent and should not be president.
Ignorance is no excuse under the law, as the Republican excuses for not removing Trump from office are impossible to believe and insulting.


politicususa--2020-02-02--Opinion: Betsy DeVos’ Corrupt Assault on Public Education Continues

The drama of the impeachment of the nation ’ s president , reports indicate , simply has not captured the interest or concern of the American audience .
Apparently the melodrama of daytime soap operas attracts their attention more than the antics of a corrupt president and administration actively undermining the nation ’ s security for personal gain at the expense of the people ’ s interests .
Arguably , Trump ’ s corrupt behavior and incessant lying should concern the American people .
He has misled the people about his support for healthcare policy that ensures coverage for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut medicare and social security , and hosts of other issues most Americans would tend to understand as “ kitchen table ” issues , those issues that directly impact their pocketbooks , livelihoods , and ability to take care of their families .
It would seem that the corrupt behavior of a president everyday seeking to make American lives worse in the most basic ways would interest voters .
But there is no point arguing .
I tried as much when I wrote a piece arguing in a similar vein , titled “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Table Issue of all Kitchen Table Issues , ” back when that report was released .
What IS worth highlighting in reporting , though , is the kind of corruption we see in the Trump administration in relation to issues that we actually know Americans care deeply about and which just doesn ’ t receive as much attention .
I ’ m talking about issues of public education and the ongoing corrupt behavior of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , who continues to work against Americans ’ abilities to attain affordable and quality public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Trump , to line her own pockets .
The magnitude of the impeachment hearings and “ trial , ” dominating the attention of the American media , provided cover for DeVos ’ own more mundane corruption .
Early last December , DeVos proposed a plan to transfer the government ’ s $ 1.5 trillion student loan portfolio to a “ stand-alone government corporation , ” spinning off the Education Department ’ s Federal Student Aid office into a new and supposedly independent federal agency .
That sounds innocent enough , right ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
She tweeted at the time , “ One has to wonder : why isn ’ t Federal Student Aid a stand-alone government corporation , run by a professional , expert , and apolitical Board of Governors ?
A separate Federal Student Aid would be better positioned to deliver world-class service to students and their families as they finance higher education.
” Let ’ s fill in some context and assess how innocent this plan is .
Writing for Common Dreams , Jake Johnson reported that observers condemned the move “ as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the ability to cancel student loan debt.
” He quoted the analysis of The Intercept ’ s Ryan Grim , who wrote , “ This very much appears to be a Betsy DeVos scheme to block the next president from unilaterally forgiving federal student debt , which she is well aware a president could do without Congress .
The DeVos family is heavily invested in the student loan industry and this is just flat-out corruption.
” This is just the latest episode of DeVos ’ ongoing saga of corruption and assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the end of last August , DeVos , reversing policies put in place during the Obama administration to enable students to seek forgiveness for loans they received when for-profit colleges defrauded them , made it more difficult for students to qualify for such loan forgiveness .
She complained students were just raising their hands to get “ free money.
” Then , late last October , DeVos had her day—or rather her follow-up day–in federal district court on another but related matter dating back to a June 2018 ruling from Magistrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Education to cease and desist from collecting on loans students owed from Corinthian Colleges , a for-profit chain of colleges that collapsed in 2014 after being exposed for cheating students with deceptive recruiting practices and falsified job placement data .
At one of DeVos ’ s hearings last October , Magistrate Judge Kim held DeVos in contempt of court , levying a $ 100,000 fine , for violating that 2018 order and continuing to pursue the collection of debt from roughly 16,000 students , in many cases garnering wages and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills to borrowers for debts they did not owe .
At this same hearing , Kim also declared , “ At best it is gross negligence , at worst it ’ s an intentional flouting of my order .
I ’ m not sure if this is contempt or sanctions .
I ’ m not sending anyone to jail yet but it ’ s good to know I have that ability.
” Maybe DeVos should be locked up for , in Kim ’ s words , having “ harmed individual borrowers who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , of course , this refusal to forgive student loan debt , even when students are victims of the fraudulent for-profit so-called institutions of higher education , is linked to DeVos ’ own profit motives .
Americans care about this corruption and recognize its immediate consequences on their lives .
In Michigan , Democrats Darrin Camilleri in 2016 and Padma Kuppa and Matt Koleszar in 2018 flipped Republican-held state representative seats in their respective districts by foregrounding the erosion of public schools in those districts due to a gross underfunding caused in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement in the state .
Also in 2018 , Kansas voters elected Democrats Laura Kelly as Governor and Sharice Davids to the House of Representatives who ran on support for public education , after cuts to education were so egregious that they were deemed unconstitutional by the state ’ s supreme court .
Last November , Democrat Andy Beshear defeated always-Trumper incumbent Governor Matt Bevin largely , by many accounts , because of his support for teachers and public education , while Bevin ran on a platform that refused to increase education budgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers .
DeVos ’ corruption , in its outright attack on people , is tangible to voters .
Democrats need to highlight this corruption , lost in the impeachment cloud .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
The drama of the impeachment of the nation’s president, reports indicate, simply has not captured the interest or concern of the American audience. Apparently the melodrama of daytime soap operas attracts their attention more than the antics of a corrupt president and administration actively undermining the nation’s security for personal gain at the expense of the people’s interests.
Arguably, Trump’s corrupt behavior and incessant lying should concern the American people. He has misled the people about his support for healthcare policy that ensures coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, his refusal to cut medicare and social security, and hosts of other issues most Americans would tend to understand as “kitchen table” issues, those issues that directly impact their pocketbooks, livelihoods, and ability to take care of their families. It would seem that the corrupt behavior of a president everyday seeking to make American lives worse in the most basic ways would interest voters.
But there is no point arguing. I tried as much when I wrote a piece arguing in a similar vein, titled “Why the Mueller Report is the Kitchen Table Issue of all Kitchen Table Issues,” back when that report was released.
What IS worth highlighting in reporting, though, is the kind of corruption we see in the Trump administration in relation to issues that we actually know Americans care deeply about and which just doesn’t receive as much attention.
I’m talking about issues of public education and the ongoing corrupt behavior of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who continues to work against Americans’ abilities to attain affordable and quality public education. And she does so, like Trump, to line her own pockets.
The magnitude of the impeachment hearings and “trial,” dominating the attention of the American media, provided cover for DeVos’ own more mundane corruption.
Early last December, DeVos proposed a plan to transfer the government’s $1.5 trillion student loan portfolio to a “stand-alone government corporation,” spinning off the Education Department’s Federal Student Aid office into a new and supposedly independent federal agency.
That sounds innocent enough, right?
Especially when you hear her talk about it. She tweeted at the time, “One has to wonder: why isn’t Federal Student Aid a stand-alone government corporation, run by a professional, expert, and apolitical Board of Governors? A separate Federal Student Aid would be better positioned to deliver world-class service to students and their families as they finance higher education.”
Let’s fill in some context and assess how innocent this plan is.
Writing for Common Dreams, Jake Johnson reported that observers condemned the move “as a corrupt ploy to strip the next president of the ability to cancel student loan debt.”
He quoted the analysis of The Intercept’s Ryan Grim, who wrote, “This very much appears to be a Betsy DeVos scheme to block the next president from unilaterally forgiving federal student debt, which she is well aware a president could do without Congress. The DeVos family is heavily invested in the student loan industry and this is just flat-out corruption.”
This is just the latest episode of DeVos’ ongoing saga of corruption and assault on Americans in quest of an education.
At the end of last August, DeVos, reversing policies put in place during the Obama administration to enable students to seek forgiveness for loans they received when for-profit colleges defrauded them, made it more difficult for students to qualify for such loan forgiveness.
She complained students were just raising their hands to get “free money.”
Then, late last October, DeVos had her day—or rather her follow-up day–in federal district court on another but related matter dating back to a June 2018 ruling from Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim that ordered DeVos and the Department of Education to cease and desist from collecting on loans students owed from Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit chain of colleges that collapsed in 2014 after being exposed for cheating students with deceptive recruiting practices and falsified job placement data. At one of DeVos’s hearings last October, Magistrate Judge Kim held DeVos in contempt of court, levying a $100,000 fine, for violating that 2018 order and continuing to pursue the collection of debt from roughly 16,000 students, in many cases garnering wages and tax refunds, in addition to sending bills to borrowers for debts they did not owe.
At this same hearing, Kim also declared, “At best it is gross negligence, at worst it’s an intentional flouting of my order. I’m not sure if this is contempt or sanctions. I’m not sending anyone to jail yet but it’s good to know I have that ability.”
Maybe DeVos should be locked up for, in Kim’s words, having “harmed individual borrowers who were forced to repay loans.”
And we know, of course, this refusal to forgive student loan debt, even when students are victims of the fraudulent for-profit so-called institutions of higher education, is linked to DeVos’ own profit motives.
Americans care about this corruption and recognize its immediate consequences on their lives.
In Michigan, Democrats Darrin Camilleri in 2016 and Padma Kuppa and Matt Koleszar in 2018 flipped Republican-held state representative seats in their respective districts by foregrounding the erosion of public schools in those districts due to a gross underfunding caused in part by DeVos’ long-standing charter school movement in the state.
Also in 2018, Kansas voters elected Democrats Laura Kelly as Governor and Sharice Davids to the House of Representatives who ran on support for public education, after Sam Brownback’s cuts to education were so egregious that they were deemed unconstitutional by the state’s supreme court.
Last November, Democrat Andy Beshear defeated always-Trumper incumbent Governor Matt Bevin largely, by many accounts, because of his support for teachers and public education, while Bevin ran on a platform that refused to increase education budgets while he also outright slandered and insulted teachers.
DeVos’ corruption, in its outright attack on people, is tangible to voters.
Democrats need to highlight this corruption, lost in the impeachment cloud.


politicususa--2020-02-01--Pelosi Sets Up McConnell’s Republicans With Vote On Medicaid Cuts

Pelosi and Hoyer announced that the House will be voting on Trump ’ s cuts to Medicaid , which means that Senate Republicans will be forced to vote on it too .
Pelosi and Hoyer announced the House vote for on February 6 in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA , “ On Thursday , the House will consider a resolution to disapprove of President Trump ’ s proposed cuts to Medicaid services through his new illegal block-grant scheme .
Congress has a responsibility to protect Medicaid beneficiaries from the harm that would be caused by this new guidance .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : reduce access to health care for millions of low-income Americans , including access to affordable prescription drugs .
The Democratic-led House will not allow this challenge to health care access in our country to go unanswered.
” Senate Republicans will have go on the record as supporting cutting healthcare Speaker Pelosi is going to make the 2020 election about healthcare .
She is setting McConnell and his vulnerable Senate Republican incumbents up .
Once the House passes their resolution , Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer will be able to force a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate incumbents like Colorado , North Carolina , and Arizona will have to go on the record as supporting taking away health insurance from millions of Americans .
Trump is already worried that Democrats are killing him on healthcare , and votes like this one could flip the Senate in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Pelosi and Hoyer announced that the House will be voting on Trump’s cuts to Medicaid, which means that Senate Republicans will be forced to vote on it too.
House to vote on Trump Medicaid cuts
Pelosi and Hoyer announced the House vote for on February 6 in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, “On Thursday, the House will consider a resolution to disapprove of President Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicaid services through his new illegal block-grant scheme. Congress has a responsibility to protect Medicaid beneficiaries from the harm that would be caused by this new guidance. The goal of this new waiver is clear: reduce access to health care for millions of low-income Americans, including access to affordable prescription drugs. The Democratic-led House will not allow this challenge to health care access in our country to go unanswered.”
Senate Republicans will have go on the record as supporting cutting healthcare
Speaker Pelosi is going to make the 2020 election about healthcare. She is setting McConnell and his vulnerable Senate Republican incumbents up. Once the House passes their resolution, Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer will be able to force a vote on it in the Senate.
Republican Senate incumbents like Colorado, North Carolina, and Arizona will have to go on the record as supporting taking away health insurance from millions of Americans.
Trump is already worried that Democrats are killing him on healthcare, and votes like this one could flip the Senate in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Barr Is Blocking 24 Trump/Ukraine Emails Until After Senate Vote

The DOJ admitted that they are intentionally blocking two dozen Trump administration emails related to Ukraine until after the Senate acquits Trump .
The Department of Justice revealed in a court filing late Friday that it has two dozen emails related to the President Donald Trump ’ s involvement in the withholding of millions in security assistance to Ukraine — a disclosure that came just hours after the Senate voted against subpoenaing additional documents and witnesses in Trump ’ s impeachment trial , paving the way for his acquittal .
The filing , released near midnight Friday , marks the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that emails about the President ’ s thinking related to the aid exist , and that he was directly involved in asking about and deciding on the aid as early as June .
The administration is still blocking those emails from the public and has successfully kept them from Congress .
Trump Thinks Ukraine Will Go Away After Impeachment , But It Won ’ t The House has left the door open to more articles of impeachment against Trump , and the politics of the scandal are not going to get better for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is forever impeached , but his entire administration is corrupt and involved in a criminal conspiracy to cheat to win the 2020 election .
The House needs to investigate Attorney General Barr and continue to probe the Ukraine scandal .
The Senate vote on Wednesday will be the close of one chapter , but the story doesn ’ t end with the president ’ s acquittal at a sham trial .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
The DOJ admitted that they are intentionally blocking two dozen Trump administration emails related to Ukraine until after the Senate acquits Trump.
Bill Barr is hiding evidence against Trump
CNN reported:
The Department of Justice revealed in a court filing late Friday that it has two dozen emails related to the President Donald Trump’s involvement in the withholding of millions in security assistance to Ukraine — a disclosure that came just hours after the Senate voted against subpoenaing additional documents and witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial, paving the way for his acquittal.
The filing, released near midnight Friday, marks the first official acknowledgment from the Trump administration that emails about the President’s thinking related to the aid exist, and that he was directly involved in asking about and deciding on the aid as early as June. The administration is still blocking those emails from the public and has successfully kept them from Congress.
Trump Thinks Ukraine Will Go Away After Impeachment, But It Won’t
The House has left the door open to more articles of impeachment against Trump, and the politics of the scandal are not going to get better for Trump. The president is the one who is forever impeached, but his entire administration is corrupt and involved in a criminal conspiracy to cheat to win the 2020 election.
The House needs to investigate Attorney General Barr and continue to probe the Ukraine scandal. The Senate vote on Wednesday will be the close of one chapter, but the story doesn’t end with the president’s acquittal at a sham trial.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Republican Senators Accused Of Misconduct In Trump Cover-Up

Sen. Ben Cardin ( D-MD ) said the vote to block witnesses was about Senate Republican misconduct than the misconduct of Trump .
Cardin said on CNN , “ Yesterday was more about the misconduct of the Senate than the misconduct of the president .
The Senate led by the Republicans failed to carry out their constitutional responsibility for a fair trial , and regardless of how you feel about whether this is a removable offense or not , the Senate has a constitutional obligation to conduct a trial , and you can ’ t conduct a trial without hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents.
” McConnell ’ s Cover-up is going to follow Senate Republicans Through The Election Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell thought that he could brush Trump ’ s impeachment under the rug and move on , but that is not what ’ s happening .
McConnell created a moment that the entire country will remember in November .
Democrats have been looking for a concrete moment to tie Senate Republicans to Trump ’ s corruption and crimes for years , and McConnell gave it to them on a silver platter , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect Donald Trump .
Mitch McConnell jammed through an acquittal for Donald Trump , but the process , he indicted his own Senate majority and set the stage for their defeat in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) said the vote to block witnesses was about Senate Republican misconduct than the misconduct of Trump.
Senate Republicans Accused Of Misconduct
Cardin said on CNN, “Yesterday was more about the misconduct of the Senate than the misconduct of the president. The Senate led by the Republicans failed to carry out their constitutional responsibility for a fair trial, and regardless of how you feel about whether this is a removable offense or not, the Senate has a constitutional obligation to conduct a trial, and you can’t conduct a trial without hearing from the witnesses and looking at the documents.”
Video:
“Yesterday was more about the misconduct of the Senate than the misconduct of the President," Democratic @SenatorCardin tells @smerconish after the Senate voted to block any witnesses from being called in President Trump's impeachment trial. https://t.co/fwdGBK8GBO pic.twitter.com/r7URltUC2I — CNN (@CNN) February 1, 2020
McConnell’s Cover-up is going to follow Senate Republicans Through The Election
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell thought that he could brush Trump’s impeachment under the rug and move on, but that is not what’s happening. McConnell created a moment that the entire country will remember in November. Democrats have been looking for a concrete moment to tie Senate Republicans to Trump’s corruption and crimes for years, and McConnell gave it to them on a silver platter, but he betrayed the independence of the Senate to protect Donald Trump.
Mitch McConnell jammed through an acquittal for Donald Trump, but the process, he indicted his own Senate majority and set the stage for their defeat in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Trump Throws A Fit Because He Won’t Be Acquitted Before SOTU

Trump believes that Mitch McConnell got rolled and thinks that the Senate should have stayed in session through Saturday to acquit him before the State Of The Union .
The White House said that Trump signed off on the Senate deal : But , Chad Pergram of Fox News tweeted out Trump ’ s real feelings : Trump made the comment about the Senate working through Saturday , while he was either on his way to or at his private club in Florida .
The White House consistently lies , so it is likely that Trump ’ s real feelings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News congressional reporter , not the White House statement .
It was public knowledge that Trump wanted to be acquitted before his State Of The Union , and there was talk that he was planning on using his Super Bowl Sunday interview with Sean Hannity to take a victory lap on national television in front of the biggest audience of the year .
None of that will happen now , as Trump will not be acquitted by McConnell ’ s sham trial until Wednesday of next week .
Donald Trump may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will always be impeached .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Trump believes that Mitch McConnell got rolled and thinks that the Senate should have stayed in session through Saturday to acquit him before the State Of The Union.
The White House said that Trump signed off on the Senate deal:
WH official confirms McConnell and Trump spoke about deal to end trial next week and Trump signed off. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 1, 2020
But, Chad Pergram of Fox News tweeted out Trump’s real feelings:
Source close to Trump on Senate delaying verdict in the impeachment trial until next week: “(Republican) senators should have stayed in on Saturday. They got rolled.” Source added “It’s a terrible thing." — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) February 1, 2020
Trump made the comment about the Senate working through Saturday, while he was either on his way to or at his private club in Florida.
The White House consistently lies, so it is likely that Trump’s real feelings are reflected in the tweet from the Fox News congressional reporter, not the White House statement.
It was public knowledge that Trump wanted to be acquitted before his State Of The Union, and there was talk that he was planning on using his Super Bowl Sunday interview with Sean Hannity to take a victory lap on national television in front of the biggest audience of the year.
None of that will happen now, as Trump will not be acquitted by McConnell’s sham trial until Wednesday of next week.
Donald Trump may not be removed from office, but he will always be impeached.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Rudy Giuliani Admits That Bolton Meeting That Trump Denies Happened

Rudy Giuliani is admitting that the meeting with John Bolton that Trump claims never happened actually did happen .
Mr. Bolton left the Oval Office after 10 minutes and returned to his office , he wrote .
Shortly after , two aides came into his office , saying Mr. Trump had sent them out of a separate meeting on trade to ask about Mr. Kent , Mr. Bolton wrote .
Asked about Mr. Bolton ’ s account , Mr. Giuliani said , “ I think he ’ s making some of it up .
He ’ s sure making up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making it up , but he ’ s acting like a real scumbag by never telling me that he objected once , and then saying I was a time bomb , or a firecracker or something.
” Rudy Giuliani confirms that the meeting where Trump directed Bolton to withhold Ukraine aid happened , but he is mad that Bolton didn ’ t complain to him directly .
Trump is guilty .
The evidence continues to pile up against Trump on a daily basis .
Trump ’ s impeachment doesn ’ t go away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of impeachment on Wednesday .
Trump is still impeached .
He will still be impeached during the 2020 election , and he will carry impeachment with him for the rest of his life .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Rudy Giuliani is admitting that the meeting with John Bolton that Trump claims never happened actually did happen.
The New York Times reported:
Mr. Bolton left the Oval Office after 10 minutes and returned to his office, he wrote. Shortly after, two aides came into his office, saying Mr. Trump had sent them out of a separate meeting on trade to ask about Mr. Kent, Mr. Bolton wrote.
Asked about Mr. Bolton’s account, Mr. Giuliani said, “I think he’s making some of it up. He’s sure making up — I wouldn’t call it making it up, but he’s acting like a real scumbag by never telling me that he objected once, and then saying I was a time bomb, or a firecracker or something.”
Rudy Giuliani confirms that the meeting where Trump directed Bolton to withhold Ukraine aid happened, but he is mad that Bolton didn’t complain to him directly.
Trump is guilty. The evidence continues to pile up against Trump on a daily basis. Trump’s impeachment doesn’t go away after the Senate votes on the articles of impeachment on Wednesday. Trump is still impeached. He will still be impeached during the 2020 election, and he will carry impeachment with him for the rest of his life.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Pelosi Names Senate Republicans Accomplices In Trump’s Cover-Up

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi labeled Senate Republicans accomplices in Donald Trump ’ s Ukraine crimes cover-up .
Pelosi said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA : The Senate Republicans ’ vote against calling witnesses and compelling documents in the impeachment proceedings makes them accomplices to the President ’ s cover-up .
The President was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
He is impeached forever .
There can be no acquittal without a trial .
And there is no trial without witnesses , documents and evidence .
It is a sad day for America to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States to preside over a vote which rejected our nation ’ s judicial norms , precedents , and institutions to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law .
Speaker Pelosi is correct .
Every single Senate Republican who voted to block witnesses and documents are accomplices in Donald Trump ’ s cover-up .
Senate Republicans will now wear the permanent stain of Trump impeachment .
Mitch McConnell has been able to keep his Senate Majority separate from Trump ’ s toxicity until now .
Senate Republicans are now joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the bill for their cover-up is about to come due in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi labeled Senate Republicans accomplices in Donald Trump’s Ukraine crimes cover-up.
Pelosi said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:
The Senate Republicans’ vote against calling witnesses and compelling documents in the impeachment proceedings makes them accomplices to the President’s cover-up.
The President was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He is impeached forever. There can be no acquittal without a trial. And there is no trial without witnesses, documents and evidence.
It is a sad day for America to see Senator McConnell require the Chief Justice of the United States to preside over a vote which rejected our nation’s judicial norms, precedents, and institutions to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.
Speaker Pelosi is correct. Every single Senate Republican who voted to block witnesses and documents are accomplices in Donald Trump’s cover-up.
Senate Republicans will now wear the permanent stain of Trump impeachment.
Mitch McConnell has been able to keep his Senate Majority separate from Trump’s toxicity until now. Senate Republicans are now joined at the hip with corrupt Trump, and the bill for their cover-up is about to come due in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-02-01--Adam Schiff And House Managers Deliver A Chilling Warning To Mitch McConnell

Lead House Impeachment Manager Adam Schiff and his fellow impeachment managers warned Mitch McConnell that the truth couldn ’ t be denied for long .
In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA , the House managers said : Senators just voted to make this the first impeachment trial in the history of the United States without witnesses and documents , which were blocked by President Trump during the inquiry .
The House Managers proved their case with a mountain of evidence , as some Republican Senators have acknowledged .
And there is more direct evidence of the President ’ s corrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at the President ’ s urging , the Senate chose not to hear from people like John Bolton , knowing they would only add to the overwhelming evidence of the President ’ s guilt .
The truth can not be denied , not for long , and the facts will continue to come out as they did today .
Senators who opposed hearing from these witnesses , when their testimony would have better informed a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the President , will be hard pressed to explain why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous precedent that will have long-lasting repercussions for the United States Congress , the balance of powers , and our democracy as a whole .
Schiff is right .
With each new revelation in the Ukraine scandal , the truth is coming out .
Mitch McConnell can hold a sham trial .
He can rig the process to deny documents and witnesses , but what he can ’ t do is hide the truth .
The new Senate schedule that delays the final vote on the articles of impeachment until Wednesday is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information coming out daily , the truth will be revealed , and Trump and his accomplices will pay a price for their cover-up .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Lead House Impeachment Manager Adam Schiff and his fellow impeachment managers warned Mitch McConnell that the truth couldn’t be denied for long.
In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, the House managers said:
Senators just voted to make this the first impeachment trial in the history of the United States without witnesses and documents, which were blocked by President Trump during the inquiry.
The House Managers proved their case with a mountain of evidence, as some Republican Senators have acknowledged. And there is more direct evidence of the President’s corrupt scheme only a subpoena away. But, at the President’s urging, the Senate chose not to hear from people like John Bolton, knowing they would only add to the overwhelming evidence of the President’s guilt.
The truth cannot be denied, not for long, and the facts will continue to come out as they did today. Senators who opposed hearing from these witnesses, when their testimony would have better informed a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the President, will be hard pressed to explain why.
Senators chose instead to set a dangerous precedent that will have long-lasting repercussions for the United States Congress, the balance of powers, and our democracy as a whole.
Schiff is right. With each new revelation in the Ukraine scandal, the truth is coming out. Mitch McConnell can hold a sham trial. He can rig the process to deny documents and witnesses, but what he can’t do is hide the truth.
The new Senate schedule that delays the final vote on the articles of impeachment until Wednesday is a dangerous time for Republicans. With new information coming out daily, the truth will be revealed, and Trump and his accomplices will pay a price for their cover-up.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Senate Reaches Deal So Trump Is Not Acquitted Before SOTU

McConnell and Schumer have reached a deal for the final votes to occur in Trump ’ s impeachment trial next Wednesday , which is the day after Trump ’ s SOTU .
So here ’ s what senator Roy Blunt of Missouri is telling my colleague .
He says the leaders have agreed to a resolution will do the following .
It will allow for four amendments tonight .
Nothing happening over this weekend .
The senators would come back on Monday .
Monday is when you would see the closing arguments .
Six hours , three hours for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wednesday would be devoted to the public deliberations , and then vote on the final judgment .
The two final vote would happen at 4:00 P.M. Eastern , 1:00 P.M. Pacific .
So the interesting thing here , there is no process for any closed deliberations that happened during the Clinton impeachment process and this does include days of deliberations which tracks with the Clinton standards .
So that ’ s the news .
Something happening this weekend .
Some votes amendments we would imagine this evening .
Monday , closing arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senators .
Every senator who wants to would be able to state his or her case on the record .
All of it culminating at 4:00 P.M. Eastern .
Trump wanted to be acquitted before his Super Bowl interview with Sean Hannity .
He wanted to be acquitted before his State Of The Union on Tuesday , February 4 .
Neither of those things is going to happen .
The Senate Democratic candidates will get to go to Iowa for the weekend before the caucus , and the American people will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who blocked new witnesses and documents in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
The delay also gives time for more John Bolton revelations to come out and is potentially perilous for Senate Republicans who have committed to the Trump cover-up .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
McConnell and Schumer have reached a deal for the final votes to occur in Trump’s impeachment trial next Wednesday, which is the day after Trump’s SOTU.
NBC News’s Geoff Bennett reported:
So here’s what senator Roy Blunt of Missouri is telling my colleague. He says the leaders have agreed to a resolution will do the following. It will allow for four amendments tonight. Nothing happening over this weekend. The senators would come back on Monday. Monday is when you would see the closing arguments.
Six hours, three hours for the president’s defense team. Tuesday and Wednesday would be devoted to the public deliberations, and then vote on the final judgment. The two final vote would happen at 4:00 P.M. Eastern, 1:00 P.M. Pacific.
So the interesting thing here, there is no process for any closed deliberations that happened during the Clinton impeachment process and this does include days of deliberations which tracks with the Clinton standards. So that’s the news. Something happening this weekend. Some votes amendments we would imagine this evening. Monday, closing arguments. Tuesday and Wednesday, deliberations by the senators. Every senator who wants to would be able to state his or her case on the record. All of it culminating at 4:00 P.M. Eastern.
Video:
Senate reaches deal with no final vote on articles of impeachment until Wednesday, so Trump will not be acquitted before his State Of The Union. pic.twitter.com/OZ3MAiyCuB — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 31, 2020
Trump wanted to be acquitted before his Super Bowl interview with Sean Hannity. He wanted to be acquitted before his State Of The Union on Tuesday, February 4. Neither of those things is going to happen.
The Senate Democratic candidates will get to go to Iowa for the weekend before the caucus, and the American people will have their rage to build at Senate Republicans who blocked new witnesses and documents in Trump’s impeachment trial.
The delay also gives time for more John Bolton revelations to come out and is potentially perilous for Senate Republicans who have committed to the Trump cover-up.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Senate Republicans Commit Mass Political Suicide To Cover-Up For Trump

After Senate Republicans blocked documents and witnesses , Sen. Chris Murphy ( D-CT ) warned Republicans to prepare for political pain .
Murphy said on MSNBC : There is going to be real political pain here .
People need to understand that voters won ’ t forget this .
As more and more of these revelations will come out , more and more vote letters wonder why on Earth the Senate didn ’ t consider information available to them .
And so I from the beginning was amongst those who thought there would definitely be witnesses .
If not because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country because they knew there would be enormous political damage to them if they engaged in something could be easily seen as a cover-up .
First and foremost for the country but I think this makes the job of re-election for a lot of my Republican friends much , much more difficult .
Why they don ’ t understand that maybe due to the fact Trump just has death grip on this party right now that makes them blind , even to their own personal political fortunes .
The pain has already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA , Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll said , “ After months of ducking Coloradans and running from reporters , today Senator Gardner did exactly what we ’ ve come to expect from him — voted in lockstep with Mitch McConnell to block witnesses and evidence from Republicans ’ sham trial before the Senate .
Gardner ’ s vote today for his party ’ s cover-up made clear that he has abandoned not only his pledge to serve as an impartial juror in the impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an independent voice for our state .
Voters will remember in November how Gardner sold out our country and our Constitution , and put his loyalty to Trump and McConnell ahead of Coloradans.
” Cult leader Trump has inspired 51 Republicans to drink the orange Flavor Aid in an act of political mass suicide that should cost them their Senate majority in November .
Incumbents like Martha McSally , Cory Gardner , and Thom Tillis can kiss their seats goodbye .
The reckoning will come for Susan Collins when she votes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the trial , but voters won ’ t forget .
They will remember in November , as Trump ’ s vulnerable accomplices will lose their seats .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
After Senate Republicans blocked documents and witnesses, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned Republicans to prepare for political pain.
Murphy said on MSNBC:
There is going to be real political pain here. People need to understand that voters won’t forget this. As more and more of these revelations will come out, more and more vote letters wonder why on Earth the Senate didn’t consider information available to them. And so I from the beginning was amongst those who thought there would definitely be witnesses. If not because it is in the best interests of the country because they knew there would be enormous political damage to them if they engaged in something could be easily seen as a cover-up.
First and foremost for the country but I think this makes the job of re-election for a lot of my Republican friends much, much more difficult. Why they don’t understand that maybe due to the fact Trump just has death grip on this party right now that makes them blind, even to their own personal political fortunes.
Video:
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) warns Republicans that political pain is coming their way, and those Senators who aren't in red states, just made their job of winning reelection a lot tougher. #RIPGOP pic.twitter.com/vHRILrb4LF — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 31, 2020
The pain has already begun for endangered Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner.
In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll said, “After months of ducking Coloradans and running from reporters, today Senator Gardner did exactly what we’ve come to expect from him — voted in lockstep with Mitch McConnell to block witnesses and evidence from Republicans’ sham trial before the Senate. Gardner’s vote today for his party’s cover-up made clear that he has abandoned not only his pledge to serve as an impartial juror in the impeachment trial, but also his campaign promise to be an independent voice for our state. Voters will remember in November how Gardner sold out our country and our Constitution, and put his loyalty to Trump and McConnell ahead of Coloradans.”
Cult leader Trump has inspired 51 Republicans to drink the orange Flavor Aid in an act of political mass suicide that should cost them their Senate majority in November. Incumbents like Martha McSally, Cory Gardner, and Thom Tillis can kiss their seats goodbye. The reckoning will come for Susan Collins when she votes to acquit Trump.
Mitch McConnell can rush through the trial, but voters won’t forget. They will remember in November, as Trump’s vulnerable accomplices will lose their seats.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Trump’s Own Lawyer Pat Cipollone Is a Witness To His Crimes

In case you ’ re not clear just how much of a sham the Republican-led Senate “ trial ” sans witnesses and evidence of Donald Trump really is , consider this : His own lawyer failed to disclose that he is actually a witness to the very crime from which he is defending Trump .
In the New York Times story on John Bolton ’ s book , they disclosed that Trump told Bolton in front of witnesses to pressure Ukraine to help him cheat in 2020 by attacking Joe Biden .
One of those witnesses was Pat Cipollone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his “ impeachment trial ” in the “ Senate.
” Lead Democratic House prosecutor Adam Schiff said in closing arguments , ” Well , there ’ s a new fact , which indicates that Mr. Cipollone was among those who were in the loop… Yet another reason why we ought to hear from witnesses.
” On January 21 , 2020 , the House Managers sent Cipollone a demand to disclose all first hand facts and information before the trial .
BEFORE THE TRIAL .
They noted that their evidence gathering indicated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events and that being a witness to the charges on top of being an advocate for Trump raised serious concerns .
Excerpts are from a letter sent to PoliticusUSA by the House impeachment managers : “ In preparation for the trial of Donald J. Trump before the Senate , we write to notify you that evidence received by the House of Representatives during its impeachment inquiry indicates that you are a material witness to the charges in both Articles of Impeachment for which President Trump now faces trial .
“ You must disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have first-hand knowledge that will be at issue in connection with evidence you present or arguments you make in your role as the President ’ s legal advocate so that the Senate and Chief Justice can be apprised of any potential ethical issues , conflicts , or biases.
” Cipollone did not come forward with the information he is a first hand witness to – information about the very crime and abuse of power that Trump is being tried on , and over which Cipollone is defending the president .
This should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Trump is so corrupt that he can ’ t get decent lawyers with ethics and legitimate arguments to defend him .
But it says a lot about Senate Republicans , who have let yet another witness go in their traitorous deference to the foreign led agenda of this president .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
In case you’re not clear just how much of a sham the Republican-led Senate “trial” sans witnesses and evidence of Donald Trump really is, consider this: His own lawyer failed to disclose that he is actually a witness to the very crime from which he is defending Trump.
In the New York Times story on John Bolton’s book, they disclosed that Trump told Bolton in front of witnesses to pressure Ukraine to help him cheat in 2020 by attacking Joe Biden.
One of those witnesses was Pat Cipollone. Donald Trump’s “lawyer” for his “impeachment trial” in the “Senate.”
Lead Democratic House prosecutor Adam Schiff said in closing arguments,”Well, there’s a new fact, which indicates that Mr. Cipollone was among those who were in the loop… Yet another reason why we ought to hear from witnesses.”
On January 21, 2020, the House Managers sent Cipollone a demand to disclose all first hand facts and information before the trial. BEFORE THE TRIAL.
They noted that their evidence gathering indicated that Cipollone was a witness to numerous critical events and that being a witness to the charges on top of being an advocate for Trump raised serious concerns.
Excerpts are from a letter sent to PoliticusUSA by the House impeachment managers:
“In preparation for the trial of Donald J. Trump before the Senate, we write to notify you that evidence received by the House of Representatives during its impeachment inquiry indicates that you are a material witness to the charges in both Articles of Impeachment for which President Trump now faces trial.
“You must disclose all facts and information as to which you have first-hand knowledge that will be at issue in connection with evidence you present or arguments you make in your role as the President’s legal advocate so that the Senate and Chief Justice can be apprised of any potential ethical issues, conflicts, or biases.”
Cipollone did not come forward with the information he is a first hand witness to – information about the very crime and abuse of power that Trump is being tried on, and over which Cipollone is defending the president.
This should really not come as a surprise, as Trump is so corrupt that he can’t get decent lawyers with ethics and legitimate arguments to defend him. But it says a lot about Senate Republicans, who have let yet another witness go in their traitorous deference to the foreign led agenda of this president.


politicususa--2020-01-31--Profile In GOP Cowardice Rob Portman Says Trump Was Inappropriate But Not Removable

Sen .
Rob Portman ( R-OH ) said that Trump ’ s Ukraine behavior was inappropriate and wrong , but doesn ’ t rise to the level of removal .
I do not believe that additional witnesses are needed .
I have said consistently for the past four months since the Zelensky transcript was first released , that I believe that some of the president ’ s actions in this case – including asking a foreign country to investigate a potential political opponent and the delay of aid to Ukraine – were wrong and inappropriate .
But I do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise to the level of removing a duly-elected president from office and taking him off the ballot in the middle of an election .
I also believe that processing additional witnesses will take weeks if not months , and it ’ s time for the House and Senate to get back to addressing the issues the American people are most concerned about – lowering prescription drug costs , rebuilding our roads and bridges , and strengthening our economy .
Trump ’ s actions were not “ inappropriate.
” They were illegal The GAO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he withheld the aid from Ukraine in a bid to extort a Biden investigation out of Ukraine .
Republicans don ’ t have the guts to hear from witnesses , so they are scrambling to blame everyone but themselves for their failure to hold Trump accountable .
Lisa Murkowski said that it was impossible to hold a fair trial , so she was voting against making the trial fair .
Rob Portman is one of several Republicans who are dumbing down Trump ’ s crimes while blaming the House .
The truth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been released before the trial started .
Republicans were never going to listen to the evidence .
Trump ’ s trial was always a sham , and Senate Republicans are showing the nation why they should lose their majority in November .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said that Trump’s Ukraine behavior was inappropriate and wrong, but doesn’t rise to the level of removal.
Portman said in a statement:
I do not believe that additional witnesses are needed. I have said consistently for the past four months since the Zelensky transcript was first released, that I believe that some of the president’s actions in this case – including asking a foreign country to investigate a potential political opponent and the delay of aid to Ukraine – were wrong and inappropriate. But I do not believe that the president’s actions rise to the level of removing a duly-elected president from office and taking him off the ballot in the middle of an election.
I also believe that processing additional witnesses will take weeks if not months, and it’s time for the House and Senate to get back to addressing the issues the American people are most concerned about – lowering prescription drug costs, rebuilding our roads and bridges, and strengthening our economy.
Trump’s actions were not “inappropriate.” They were illegal
The GAO found that Trump broke the law when he withheld the aid from Ukraine in a bid to extort a Biden investigation out of Ukraine. Republicans don’t have the guts to hear from witnesses, so they are scrambling to blame everyone but themselves for their failure to hold Trump accountable.
Lisa Murkowski said that it was impossible to hold a fair trial, so she was voting against making the trial fair. Rob Portman is one of several Republicans who are dumbing down Trump’s crimes while blaming the House.
The truth is that Rob Portman’s statement could have been released before the trial started. Republicans were never going to listen to the evidence. Trump’s trial was always a sham, and Senate Republicans are showing the nation why they should lose their majority in November.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-01-31--Lisa Murkowski Insults Your Intelligence With Her Reason For Voting Against Witnesses

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said that a fair trial isn ’ t possible anyway , so she decided to vote against calling witnesses at Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
Murkowski ( R-AK ) said : The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed .
I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents , to cure the shortcomings of its process , but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena .
Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout , I have come to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial in the Senate .
I don ’ t believe the continuation of this process will change anything .
It is sad for me to admit that , as an institution , the Congress has failed .
Sen. Murkowski ’ s reasoning is absurd .
If she believes that the articles of impeachment are flawed , the way around it is to vote for witnesses , so that President Trump could mount a proper defense .
It is not to say that since a fair trial is impossible , I am going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republicans have the power to hold any sort of trial that they want .
If the trial is unfair , it ’ s because Republicans like Murkowski are voting against holding a fair trial .
Murkowski ’ s reason was an insult , as the least Republicans can do is own their cover-up for Trump .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print
Sen. Lisa Murkowski said that a fair trial isn’t possible anyway, so she decided to vote against calling witnesses at Trump’s impeachment trial.
Murkowski (R-AK) said:
The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.
Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.
Sen. Murkowski’s reasoning is absurd. If she believes that the articles of impeachment are flawed, the way around it is to vote for witnesses, so that President Trump could mount a proper defense.
It is not to say that since a fair trial is impossible, I am going to vote against making the trial fair.
Senate Republicans have the power to hold any sort of trial that they want. If the trial is unfair, it’s because Republicans like Murkowski are voting against holding a fair trial.
Murkowski’s reason was an insult, as the least Republicans can do is own their cover-up for Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook