shareblue--2020-01-21--GOP candidate suggests Democrats only care about climate change because communism failed

Bill O'Brien , a Republican Senate candidate in New Hampshire , suggested Monday night that progressives only care about climate change because of the collapse of communism in the 1980s .
`` Did it surprise anyone that climate change became an issue just about the time of the fall of communism ?
The left needed an organizing principle and that became it , '' O'Brien claimed at a meeting of Washington Valley Republicans .
He then accused climate scientists of altering environmental data to fit preexisting conclusions .
`` Some of these [ climate change ] models do n't even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the past to accommodate these models , '' he said .
O'Brien , the former speaker of the New Hampshire House , also claimed without proof that scientists were `` monkeying around with the data , '' downplaying the climate change crisis and saying `` we do n't have to assume that there 's a catastrophe . ''
His comments came one day after U.S. agencies reported the past decade was the hottest in recorded history .
Video of O'Brien 's remarks was obtained by American Bridge , a progressive opposition research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to a request for comment .
Josh Marcus-Blank , a spokesman for the New Hampshire Democratic Party , responded to those remarks on Tuesday , comparing O'Brien 's stance to that of the Trump administration , which has largely downplayed the threat of climate change and even rejected its own advisers ' scientific conclusions on the matter .
`` Just like Donald Trump , Bill O'Brien is denying climate change and ignoring basic science , '' he said in an email .
`` In the Senate , he would be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , just like he was as Speaker of the New Hampshire House . ''
United Nations scientists have warned that urgent action to combat climate change is critical .
`` We need quick wins to reduce emissions as much as possible in 2020 , '' Inger Andersen , head of the U.N .
Environment Program , said in November .
`` We need to catch up on the years in which we procrastinated . ''
A 2018 climate report released by 13 U.S. agencies also found climate change will cause catastrophic damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgently .
`` Flooding from rising sea levels and storms is likely to destroy , or make unsuitable for use , billions of dollars of property by the middle of this century , with the Atlantic and Gulf coasts facing greater-than-average risk compared to other regions of the country , '' the report stated .
Australia has also experienced a swath of devastating wildfires over the past six months , some of the worst the country has seen in decades .
Those fires are `` the iconic representation of climate change impacts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental studies director who chaired an international scientific report on climate change and extreme events , told the Associated Press earlier this month .
O'Brien is running in a Republican primary , hoping to take on the state 's incumbent senator , Democrat Jeanne Shaheen .
Election experts with Sabato 's Crystal Ball recently changed their New Hampshire prediction of the race in favor of Shaheen , from `` Leans Democratic '' to `` Likely Democratic . ''
Authors of the rating change said Shaheen is unlikely to face a top-tier challenger after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the race .
`` [ W ] hile establishment Republicans had little interest in Lewandowski running , they do n't necessarily have a clear fallback option among the other contenders , '' they noted .
Another Republican running in the race , Don Bolduc , recently joked about locking his wife in the trunk of his car as a test of her loyalty to him .
Bolduc admitted at the time that he had never actually locked his wife in the trunk of a car and recommended against anyone else doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this article incorrectly attributed New Hampshire election predictions to Rasmussen Reports .
It has been changed to correctly attribute the analysis to Sabato 's Crystal Ball .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Bill O’Brien, a Republican Senate candidate in New Hampshire, suggested Monday night that progressives only care about climate change because of the collapse of communism in the 1980s.
“Did it surprise anyone that climate change became an issue just about the time of the fall of communism? The left needed an organizing principle and that became it,” O’Brien claimed at a meeting of Washington Valley Republicans.
He then accused climate scientists of altering environmental data to fit preexisting conclusions.
“Some of these [climate change] models don’t even predict the past. You have to change the past to accommodate these models,” he said.
O’Brien, the former speaker of the New Hampshire House, also claimed without proof that scientists were “monkeying around with the data,” downplaying the climate change crisis and saying “we don’t have to assume that there’s a catastrophe.”
His comments came one day after U.S. agencies reported the past decade was the hottest in recorded history.
Video of O’Brien’s remarks was obtained by American Bridge, a progressive opposition research group.
The O’Brien campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Josh Marcus-Blank, a spokesman for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, responded to those remarks on Tuesday, comparing O’Brien’s stance to that of the Trump administration, which has largely downplayed the threat of climate change and even rejected its own advisers’ scientific conclusions on the matter.
“Just like Donald Trump, Bill O’Brien is denying climate change and ignoring basic science,” he said in an email. “In the Senate, he would be an automatic vote against policies to address climate change, just like he was as Speaker of the New Hampshire House.”
United Nations scientists have warned that urgent action to combat climate change is critical.
“We need quick wins to reduce emissions as much as possible in 2020,” Inger Andersen, head of the U.N. Environment Program, said in November. “We need to catch up on the years in which we procrastinated.”
A 2018 climate report released by 13 U.S. agencies also found climate change will cause catastrophic damage to the United States if not addressed urgently.
“Flooding from rising sea levels and storms is likely to destroy, or make unsuitable for use, billions of dollars of property by the middle of this century, with the Atlantic and Gulf coasts facing greater-than-average risk compared to other regions of the country,” the report stated.
Australia has also experienced a swath of devastating wildfires over the past six months, some of the worst the country has seen in decades.
Those fires are “the iconic representation of climate change impacts,” Chris Field, the Stanford University environmental studies director who chaired an international scientific report on climate change and extreme events, told the Associated Press earlier this month.
O’Brien is running in a Republican primary, hoping to take on the state’s incumbent senator, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
Election experts with Sabato’s Crystal Ball recently changed their New Hampshire prediction of the race in favor of Shaheen, from “Leans Democratic” to “Likely Democratic.” Authors of the rating change said Shaheen is unlikely to face a top-tier challenger after former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewendowski dropped out of the race.
“[W]hile establishment Republicans had little interest in Lewandowski running, they don’t necessarily have a clear fallback option among the other contenders,” they noted.
Another Republican running in the race, Don Bolduc, recently joked about locking his wife in the trunk of his car as a test of her loyalty to him. Bolduc admitted at the time that he had never actually locked his wife in the trunk of a car and recommended against anyone else doing it.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed New Hampshire election predictions to Rasmussen Reports. It has been changed to correctly attribute the analysis to Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-21--McConnell wants to keep new impeachment testimony behind closed doors

During the House 's impeachment inquiry , Republicans raged about the process , condemning Democrats for holding witness interviews behind closed doors and even trying to dismiss the entire investigation because of it .
Donald Trump himself said the process had `` zero transparency '' because of the closed-door depositions .
Republicans went as far as protesting the process by storming a secure area of the Capitol where the closed-door depositions were being held , a move that compromised national security .
However , under the impeachment trial rules crafted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , any potential impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind closed doors — adopting a process the GOP attacked Democrats for using .
The `` Senate shall decide after deposition which witnesses shall testify , pursuant to the impeachment rules , '' according to McConnell 's resolution .
Republicans are expected to vote to approve McConnell 's impeachment trial rules that include the closed-door deposition requirement on Tuesday afternoon .
That means multiple GOP senators who condemned the House 's process will now be signing off on the very same procedures they previously criticized .
In fact , 50 Senate Republicans co-sponsored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-SC ) that `` [ condemned ] the House of Representatives ' closed door impeachment inquiry . ''
Sen. Thom Tillis ( R-NC ) said in a statement during the House impeachment inquiry that Democrats were `` running a closed-door process that denies due process to President Trump . ''
`` This secretive approach allows House Democrats to selectively leak information that supports their political agenda of attacking President Trump at the expense of providing fairness to the President and transparency to the American people , '' Tillis said in October .
Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement supporting the Graham resolution , `` There 's a clear way to conduct an inquiry like this : In front of the public , with the minority having proper rights , with the accused having some basic fairness and due process . ''
Ultimately , Democrats released all of the transcripts from the closed-door depositions they held in the impeachment inquiry .
And the same people that were deposed behind closed doors later wound up testifying in public , meaning that the `` secret '' proceedings Republicans railed against were n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans also want to hold closed-door depositions — if Republicans consent to hearing from any witnesses at all .
McConnell has said he does not want to hear from any witnesses and wants to acquit Trump quickly .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During the House’s impeachment inquiry, Republicans raged about the process, condemning Democrats for holding witness interviews behind closed doors and even trying to dismiss the entire investigation because of it.
Donald Trump himself said the process had “zero transparency” because of the closed-door depositions. Republicans went as far as protesting the process by storming a secure area of the Capitol where the closed-door depositions were being held, a move that compromised national security.
However, under the impeachment trial rules crafted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, any potential impeachment witnesses would first need to be deposed behind closed doors — adopting a process the GOP attacked Democrats for using. The “Senate shall decide after deposition which witnesses shall testify, pursuant to the impeachment rules,” according to McConnell’s resolution.
Republicans are expected to vote to approve McConnell’s impeachment trial rules that include the closed-door deposition requirement on Tuesday afternoon. That means multiple GOP senators who condemned the House’s process will now be signing off on the very same procedures they previously criticized.
In fact, 50 Senate Republicans co-sponsored a resolution by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that “[condemned] the House of Representatives’ closed door impeachment inquiry.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said in a statement during the House impeachment inquiry that Democrats were “running a closed-door process that denies due process to President Trump.”
“This secretive approach allows House Democrats to selectively leak information that supports their political agenda of attacking President Trump at the expense of providing fairness to the President and transparency to the American people,” Tillis said in October.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said in a statement supporting the Graham resolution, “There’s a clear way to conduct an inquiry like this: In front of the public, with the minority having proper rights, with the accused having some basic fairness and due process.”
Ultimately, Democrats released all of the transcripts from the closed-door depositions they held in the impeachment inquiry. And the same people that were deposed behind closed doors later wound up testifying in public, meaning that the “secret” proceedings Republicans railed against weren’t so secret after all.
And now, Republicans also want to hold closed-door depositions — if Republicans consent to hearing from any witnesses at all. McConnell has said he does not want to hear from any witnesses and wants to acquit Trump quickly.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-21--Hometown paper slams Nunes' attempts to 'spread lies' about impeachment

Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-CA ) lied about his involvement in Donald Trump 's Ukraine scandal and betrayed the people of California , the Sacramento Bee claimed in an editorial on Monday .
Nunes , the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee during Trump 's impeachment inquiry , `` faces explosive allegations that he and his staff contacted shadowy Ukrainian figures in an effort to betray American democracy , '' the editorial board wrote .
`` For months , Nunes has acted as Trump ’ s attack dog , defending the president from accusations that he pressured Ukraine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Nunes sat in House Intelligence Committee meetings and derided the impeachment proceedings against Trump as a 'hoax . '
Yet he was sitting on a ticking time bomb the entire time . ''
The board was referencing a trove of new evidence released last week by the House Intelligence Committee , including text messages that showed a top Nunes staffer in close contact with Lev Parnas , the indicted associate of Trump 's personal lawyer , Rudy Giuliani .
In an interview with MSNBC 's Rachel Maddow earlier this month , Parnas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he saw Nunes at the impeachment hearings defending Trump , because he claimed Nunes and his staffer `` were involved in getting all this stuff on '' former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter , and `` knew very well '' what was going on .
The House impeached Trump last month for both abuse of power and obstruction of justice related to allegations that he and his allies pressured Ukraine to open politically motivated investigations into Biden and the Democratic National Committee .
Nunes claimed back in December that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiry that showed phone conversations between himself and Parnas , he did not recall ever speaking with him .
The California lawmaker amended those remarks last week after encrypted WhatsApp messages between his staffer , Derek Harvey , and Parnas were released showing Parnas providing Harvey with documents and setting up meetings between Harvey and Ukrainians officials who had made baseless claims about Biden and his son .
Nunes said he had in fact spoken to Parnas himself and remembered their conversation was odd .
He excused his earlier claim that the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't know the name — this name Parnas . ''
The editorial board at the Sacramento Bee excoriated that explanation this week .
`` We doubt any regular constituent from Nunes ' district would have much luck getting the congressman on the phone .
Yet some 'random ' businessman with Ukraine connections had no trouble reaching Nunes on his cell , '' the board wrote , noting Nunes `` hasn ’ t held a town hall with his constituents in years . ''
The board then accused Nunes of `` us [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a platform to spread lies and mislead the public . ''
`` Regardless of whether you lean Democratic or Republican , here 's an undeniable fact : Nunes lied , '' they wrote .
They added , `` The people of California 's 22nd congressional district deserve better . ''
Nunes has had an unpleasant relationship with newspapers in his home state over the past several years .
The Fresno Bee had endorsed him for 16 years — from 2002 through 2016 — before endorsing his opponent in 2018 .
During that election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40-page glossy magazine to attack the Fresno Bee , accusing the paper of being a `` propaganda machine . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) lied about his involvement in Donald Trump’s Ukraine scandal and betrayed the people of California, the Sacramento Bee claimed in an editorial on Monday.
Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee during Trump’s impeachment inquiry, “faces explosive allegations that he and his staff contacted shadowy Ukrainian figures in an effort to betray American democracy,” the editorial board wrote.
“For months, Nunes has acted as Trump’s attack dog, defending the president from accusations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden,” they added. “Nunes sat in House Intelligence Committee meetings and derided the impeachment proceedings against Trump as a ‘hoax.’ Yet he was sitting on a ticking time bomb the entire time.”
The board was referencing a trove of new evidence released last week by the House Intelligence Committee, including text messages that showed a top Nunes staffer in close contact with Lev Parnas, the indicted associate of Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. In an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow earlier this month, Parnas said he was “in shock” when he saw Nunes at the impeachment hearings defending Trump, because he claimed Nunes and his staffer “were involved in getting all this stuff on” former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, and “knew very well” what was going on.
The House impeached Trump last month for both abuse of power and obstruction of justice related to allegations that he and his allies pressured Ukraine to open politically motivated investigations into Biden and the Democratic National Committee.
Nunes claimed back in December that, despite call logs produced during the inquiry that showed phone conversations between himself and Parnas, he did not recall ever speaking with him.
The California lawmaker amended those remarks last week after encrypted WhatsApp messages between his staffer, Derek Harvey, and Parnas were released showing Parnas providing Harvey with documents and setting up meetings between Harvey and Ukrainians officials who had made baseless claims about Biden and his son.
Nunes said he had in fact spoken to Parnas himself and remembered their conversation was odd. He excused his earlier claim that the two had not spoken saying he previously “didn’t know the name — this name Parnas.”
The editorial board at the Sacramento Bee excoriated that explanation this week.
“We doubt any regular constituent from Nunes’ district would have much luck getting the congressman on the phone. Yet some ‘random’ businessman with Ukraine connections had no trouble reaching Nunes on his cell,” the board wrote, noting Nunes “hasn’t held a town hall with his constituents in years.”
The board then accused Nunes of “us[ing] his position in Congress as a platform to spread lies and mislead the public.”
“Regardless of whether you lean Democratic or Republican, here’s an undeniable fact: Nunes lied,” they wrote.
They added, “The people of California’s 22nd congressional district deserve better.”
Nunes has had an unpleasant relationship with newspapers in his home state over the past several years. The Fresno Bee had endorsed him for 16 years — from 2002 through 2016 — before endorsing his opponent in 2018. During that election, Nunes’ campaign put together a 40-page glossy magazine to attack the Fresno Bee, accusing the paper of being a “propaganda machine.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-21--Sessions running for Senate on 'religious freedom' — after trying to ban Muslims

Former Sen. Jeff Sessions ( R-AL ) , who was pushed by Donald Trump to resign from his job as attorney general , was one of the most fervent defenders of Trump 's proposed Muslim ban .
But as he runs for his old Senate seat , Sessions is now claiming that it 's Democrats who are threatening religious liberty .
Sessions announced in November that , despite Trump 's harsh criticism , he 's seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Alabama 's Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in 2020 .
In recent days , Sessions made clear that his alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major thrust of his candidacy .
Sessions said Wednesday that atheists and leftists were waging an `` unprecedented '' attack on religious freedom in the United States .
In an interview with Breitbart , a right-wing site with ties to the white-nationalist movement , Sessions said : `` These people contend that the state and government is trying to force religion down people 's throats , but in fact they want the state , the law enforcement powers of government , to be used to silence constitutionally protected religious speech . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in which he claimed Democrats ' plan for America includes `` Socialism , open borders , [ and ] free health care for illegal immigrants . ''
`` They plan to gut our religious freedom and our freedom of speech , '' a narrator claims in the 30-second spot .
Sessions then says , `` Today 's Democrats want to redefine America .
And they mean business .
They do n't want me in the Senate because they know I wo n't back down . ''
But it is Sessions who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2015 , he warned against accepting more refugees , complaining , `` Since 9/11 , we have permanently resettled approximately 1.5 million migrants from Muslim nations inside the U.S. '' Later that year , he called it `` an unpleasant but unavoidable fact that bringing in a large unassimilated flow of migrants from the Muslim world creates the conditions possible for radicalization and extremism to take hold.
” When then-candidate Donald Trump said in 2015 that he would ban all Muslims from entering the United States , Sessions embraced the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply committed to freedom of religion , '' he said `` at the same time , we ’ re in an age that ’ s very dangerous and we ’ re seeing more and more persons enter and a lot of them have done terrorist acts and a lot of them believe it ’ s commanded by their religion . ''
`` I think it 's appropriate to begin to discuss this , and he has forced that discussion .
We may even have a discussion about it in Judiciary Committee today .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s time for us to think this through and the classical , internal American religious principles I don ’ t think apply providing constitutional protections to persons not citizens who want to come here , '' he said .
After Trump instituted a version of the ban in 2017 , then-Attorney General Sessions defended it as `` well within his lawful authority to keep the Nation safe . ''
`` In fact , the President called upon leaders in the Muslim world to join the United States in protecting religious freedom for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from violence and terror , '' Sessions said at the time .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who was pushed by Donald Trump to resign from his job as attorney general, was one of the most fervent defenders of Trump’s proposed Muslim ban. But as he runs for his old Senate seat, Sessions is now claiming that it’s Democrats who are threatening religious liberty.
Sessions announced in November that, despite Trump’s harsh criticism, he’s seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Alabama’s Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in 2020.
In recent days, Sessions made clear that his alleged support for freedom of religion will be a major thrust of his candidacy.
Sessions said Wednesday that atheists and leftists were waging an “unprecedented” attack on religious freedom in the United States. In an interview with Breitbart, a right-wing site with ties to the white-nationalist movement, Sessions said: “These people contend that the state and government is trying to force religion down people’s throats, but in fact they want the state, the law enforcement powers of government, to be used to silence constitutionally protected religious speech.”
Sessions also released a campaign ad on Thursday in which he claimed Democrats’ plan for America includes “Socialism, open borders, [and] free health care for illegal immigrants.”
“They plan to gut our religious freedom and our freedom of speech,” a narrator claims in the 30-second spot.
Sessions then says, “Today’s Democrats want to redefine America. And they mean business. They don’t want me in the Senate because they know I won’t back down.”
But it is Sessions who has long promoted religious discrimination against Muslim people.
In 2015, he warned against accepting more refugees, complaining, “Since 9/11, we have permanently resettled approximately 1.5 million migrants from Muslim nations inside the U.S.”
Later that year, he called it “an unpleasant but unavoidable fact that bringing in a large unassimilated flow of migrants from the Muslim world creates the conditions possible for radicalization and extremism to take hold.”
When then-candidate Donald Trump said in 2015 that he would ban all Muslims from entering the United States, Sessions embraced the idea. While noting that Americans are “deeply committed to freedom of religion,” he said “at the same time, we’re in an age that’s very dangerous and we’re seeing more and more persons enter and a lot of them have done terrorist acts and a lot of them believe it’s commanded by their religion.”
“I think it’s appropriate to begin to discuss this, and he has forced that discussion. We may even have a discussion about it in Judiciary Committee today. But, you know, it’s time for us to think this through and the classical, internal American religious principles I don’t think apply providing constitutional protections to persons not citizens who want to come here,” he said.
After Trump instituted a version of the ban in 2017, then-Attorney General Sessions defended it as “well within his lawful authority to keep the Nation safe.”
“In fact, the President called upon leaders in the Muslim world to join the United States in protecting religious freedom for all, including the freedom to be free from violence and terror,” Sessions said at the time.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-21--McConnell is trying to hide Trump's impeachment trial from the public

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released impeachment trial rules Monday night with a built-in mechanism for both blocking witnesses from testifying about Donald Trump 's alleged abuse of power and blocking evidence the House collected during the impeachment inquiry .
The rules McConnell laid out require a full Senate vote to call witnesses as well as simply admit the evidence the House already collected into the trial .
Because Republicans hold a majority in the Senate , at least four GOP lawmakers out of the current 53 senators would have to buck their party leadership to allow witnesses and evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare occurrence for anything in the Senate , let alone a heated impeachment trial .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnell 's impeachment trial rules a `` national disgrace , '' and said in a statement that it 's `` clear Senator McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through . ''
`` Senator McConnell is saying he does n't want to hear any of the existing evidence , and he does n't want to hear any new evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial where no evidence - no existing record , no witnesses , no documents – isn ’ t a trial at all — It 's a cover up . ''
Not only that , McConnell 's trial rules allow each House manager just 24 hours of time over two days to make their case that Trump abused the power of the presidency by trying to force Ukraine into investigating his political rivals .
That could push the trial into the wee hours of the morning — when most Americans are sleeping rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed McConnell 's attempt to conduct the trial in the dead of night , as well as what she described as `` unreasonable time restrictions on critical phases of the trial . ''
`` Leader McConnell 's plan for a dark of night impeachment trial confirms what the American people have seen since Day One : the Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President , rather than honor his oath to the Constitution , '' Pelosi said in a statement .
`` Shamefully , this sham proposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House record into evidence at the trial . ''
The House impeachment managers also held a news conference Tuesday morning in which they said the rules McConnell laid out are akin to a `` rigged trial . ''
Ultimately , McConnell appears to want to acquit Trump before he is slated to deliver the State of the Union address on Feb. 4 .
The Senate will vote on whether to pass the impeachment trial rules McConnell drafted on Tuesday afternoon .
The rules are expected to pass on a party line vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released impeachment trial rules Monday night with a built-in mechanism for both blocking witnesses from testifying about Donald Trump’s alleged abuse of power and blocking evidence the House collected during the impeachment inquiry.
The rules McConnell laid out require a full Senate vote to call witnesses as well as simply admit the evidence the House already collected into the trial.
Because Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, at least four GOP lawmakers out of the current 53 senators would have to buck their party leadership to allow witnesses and evidence to be allowed at trial — a rare occurrence for anything in the Senate, let alone a heated impeachment trial.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnell’s impeachment trial rules a “national disgrace,” and said in a statement that it’s “clear Senator McConnell is hell-bent on making it much more difficult to get witnesses and documents and intent on rushing the trial through.”
“Senator McConnell is saying he doesn’t want to hear any of the existing evidence, and he doesn’t want to hear any new evidence,” Schumer said. “A trial where no evidence – no existing record, no witnesses, no documents – isn’t a trial at all — It’s a cover up.”
Not only that, McConnell’s trial rules allow each House manager just 24 hours of time over two days to make their case that Trump abused the power of the presidency by trying to force Ukraine into investigating his political rivals. That could push the trial into the wee hours of the morning — when most Americans are sleeping rather than paying attention to the news.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed McConnell’s attempt to conduct the trial in the dead of night, as well as what she described as “unreasonable time restrictions on critical phases of the trial.”
“Leader McConnell’s plan for a dark of night impeachment trial confirms what the American people have seen since Day One: the Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honor his oath to the Constitution,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Shamefully, this sham proposal does not even allow for admitting the House record into evidence at the trial.”
The House impeachment managers also held a news conference Tuesday morning in which they said the rules McConnell laid out are akin to a “rigged trial.”
Ultimately, McConnell appears to want to acquit Trump before he is slated to deliver the State of the Union address on Feb. 4.
The Senate will vote on whether to pass the impeachment trial rules McConnell drafted on Tuesday afternoon. The rules are expected to pass on a party line vote, according to Politico.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Trump says 'with me, there is no lying' after lying 15,000 times in office

Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to differentiate his impeachment with that of former President Bill Clinton , saying that Clinton was impeached for lying — something Trump claimed he does n't do .
`` There was a lot of lying going on .
There were a lot of things — a lot of bad things , '' Trump said at a news conference from Davos , Switzerland , referencing Clinton .
`` Now , with me , there ’ s no lying .
There ’ s no nothing .
They have nothing . ''
Trump 's claim that he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of itself .
In fact , Trump has become infamous for his lies and falsehoods .
He even told lies at the same news conference in which he claimed he does n't lie .
For example , Trump said that Ukraine received the military aid that Trump was intentionally holding up on time .
`` They got their money long before schedule , '' Trump said at the news conference .
`` They got all their money . ''
Because of the Trump administration 's hold on the military aid — which a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress had to pass an extension to ensure that the country received all the aid it was promised .
Ultimately , Trump lies so much that news outlets have reporters dedicated to tracking his lies .
The Washington Post 's fact-checkers counted 15,413 false or misleading comments from Trump as of Dec. 16 .
( News outlets such as the Washington Post hesitate to use the word `` lie '' because they claim they can not know whether Trump knows what he 's saying is false . )
And the Washington Post said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count skyrocketed in 2019 because of impeachment itself .

Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to differentiate his impeachment with that of former President Bill Clinton, saying that Clinton was impeached for lying — something Trump claimed he doesn’t do.
“There was a lot of lying going on. There were a lot of things — a lot of bad things,” Trump said at a news conference from Davos, Switzerland, referencing Clinton. “Now, with me, there’s no lying. There’s no nothing. They have nothing.”
Trump’s claim that he doesn’t lie is a lie in and of itself.
In fact, Trump has become infamous for his lies and falsehoods.
He even told lies at the same news conference in which he claimed he doesn’t lie.
For example, Trump said that Ukraine received the military aid that Trump was intentionally holding up on time.
“They got their money long before schedule,” Trump said at the news conference. “They got all their money.”
That claim is patently false.
Because of the Trump administration’s hold on the military aid — which a nonpartisan congressional watchdog determined was illegal — Congress had to pass an extension to ensure that the country received all the aid it was promised.
Ultimately, Trump lies so much that news outlets have reporters dedicated to tracking his lies.
The Washington Post’s fact-checkers counted 15,413 false or misleading comments from Trump as of Dec. 16. (News outlets such as the Washington Post hesitate to use the word “lie” because they claim they cannot know whether Trump knows what he’s saying is false.)
And the Washington Post said that Trump’s false or misleading statement count skyrocketed in 2019 because of impeachment itself.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Trump breaks his own record for most tweets in a day while raging about impeachment

Donald Trump set a record for activity on his favorite social media platform Wednesday , tweeting and retweeting at length about the Senate impeachment trial , the Democrats who want to replace him and much , much more .
By 4:25 p.m .
ET , Trump had barreled through his previous record of 123 Twitter postings in a day that he set a little over a month ago , according to Factba.se , a service that compiles and analyzes data on Trump 's time in office .
Trump 's previous record for tweets on a single day during his time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 12 , 2019 , the day the House Judiciary Committee opened its marathon session to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump .
Trump ' set his all-time record for tweets in a day before he took office , with 161 posts in January 2015 , according to Factba.se .
Most of his tweeting that day was dedicated to plugging his reality television show .
Trump , who began his day in Davos , Switzerland , where he was attending the World Economic Forum , started his Wednesday morning by hammering out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m .
ET ( 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. in Davos ) .
The vast majority of his postings to his more than 71 million followers were retweets of messages , videos and images from Republican lawmakers and other backers haranguing Democrats over the impeachment trial .
His barrage of tweets included plenty of incendiary posts excoriating Rep. Adam Schiff , one of the House Democratic impeachment managers , and a retweet of a provocative image posted by White House social media director Dan Scavino that shows Trump walking in front of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the “ Deep State .
”

Donald Trump set a record for activity on his favorite social media platform Wednesday, tweeting and retweeting at length about the Senate impeachment trial, the Democrats who want to replace him and much, much more.
By 4:25 p.m. ET, Trump had barreled through his previous record of 123 Twitter postings in a day that he set a little over a month ago, according to Factba.se, a service that compiles and analyzes data on Trump’s time in office.
Trump’s previous record for tweets on a single day during his time in the White House was set on Dec. 12, 2019, the day the House Judiciary Committee opened its marathon session to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump.
Trump’ set his all-time record for tweets in a day before he took office, with 161 posts in January 2015, according to Factba.se. Most of his tweeting that day was dedicated to plugging his reality television show.
Trump, who began his day in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, started his Wednesday morning by hammering out 41 tweets between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET (6 a.m. to 7 a.m. in Davos).
The vast majority of his postings to his more than 71 million followers were retweets of messages, videos and images from Republican lawmakers and other backers haranguing Democrats over the impeachment trial.
His barrage of tweets included plenty of incendiary posts excoriating Rep. Adam Schiff, one of the House Democratic impeachment managers, and a retweet of a provocative image posted by White House social media director Dan Scavino that shows Trump walking in front of a fiery scene meant to symbolize the incineration of the “Deep State.”


shareblue--2020-01-23--GOP senators keep breaking their own impeachment trial rules

More than 20 Republican senators violated Senate rules on Wednesday by leaving the chamber while House Democrats made their case for why Donald Trump deserved to be impeached , according to reporter Michael McAuliff .
Rules for the trial require senators to remain at their desks while the trial is taking place , and are banned from bringing in electronics such as cellphones or computers .
Senators are also not allowed to talk while arguments are being made .
However , multiple Republicans violated those rules , getting up for extended periods of time while the House Democratic impeachment managers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed from office .
Democrats spent hours on Wednesday laying out the case against Trump .
House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff spoke at length as he pointed to evidence that Trump abused the office of the presidency by withholding military aide to Ukraine to coerce the country into investigating Trump 's political rivals .
Schiff also said his case would be even more convincing if Republican senators simply agreed to allow witnesses and documentary evidence that Trump has thus far blocked or withheld .
`` President Trump solicited foreign interference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his office by seeking help from abroad to improve his reelection prospects at home , '' Schiff said .
`` And when he was caught , he used the powers of that office to obstruct the investigation into his own misconduct . ''
Not paying attention to Democrats ' arguments is the latest signal that Republicans plan to acquit Trump .
A number of Republicans have made clear they do not plan to be impartial witnesses , despite taking an oath of impartiality .
And have complained that they have to sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far we have n't learned anything new , '' Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) told Politico 's Jake Sherman .
Cornyn , of course , was one of 53 Senate Republicans to block multiple Democratic attempts to subpoena witnesses Trump forbade from testifying , as well as documents that Trump refused to turn over — which led to the second impeachment charge of obstruction of Congress .
Democrats , for their part , said that the GOP senators who left the room during the arguments was proof of the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They want it to end , '' Sen. Richard Blumenthal ( D-CT ) told McAuliff .
`` They want to move on , get it done , without witnesses and documents , taking cues from the White House , shut it down and get beyond . ''

More than 20 Republican senators violated Senate rules on Wednesday by leaving the chamber while House Democrats made their case for why Donald Trump deserved to be impeached, according to reporter Michael McAuliff.
Rules for the trial require senators to remain at their desks while the trial is taking place, and are banned from bringing in electronics such as cellphones or computers. Senators are also not allowed to talk while arguments are being made.
However, multiple Republicans violated those rules, getting up for extended periods of time while the House Democratic impeachment managers made their case for why Trump should be removed from office.
Democrats spent hours on Wednesday laying out the case against Trump.
House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff spoke at length as he pointed to evidence that Trump abused the office of the presidency by withholding military aide to Ukraine to coerce the country into investigating Trump’s political rivals. Schiff also said his case would be even more convincing if Republican senators simply agreed to allow witnesses and documentary evidence that Trump has thus far blocked or withheld.
“President Trump solicited foreign interference in our democratic elections, abusing the power of his office by seeking help from abroad to improve his reelection prospects at home,” Schiff said. “And when he was caught, he used the powers of that office to obstruct the investigation into his own misconduct.”
"We are here today in this hallowed chamber… because Donald J. Trump solicited foreign interference in our democratic elections, abusing the power of his office by seeking help from abroad to improve his reelection prospects at home." –@RepAdamSchiff pic.twitter.com/xiUmeCpdrj — House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntelDems) January 22, 2020
Not paying attention to Democrats’ arguments is the latest signal that Republicans plan to acquit Trump.
A number of Republicans have made clear they do not plan to be impartial witnesses, despite taking an oath of impartiality. And have complained that they have to sit through the arguments at all.
“So far we haven’t learned anything new,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told Politico’s Jake Sherman. Cornyn, of course, was one of 53 Senate Republicans to block multiple Democratic attempts to subpoena witnesses Trump forbade from testifying, as well as documents that Trump refused to turn over — which led to the second impeachment charge of obstruction of Congress.
Democrats, for their part, said that the GOP senators who left the room during the arguments was proof of the fact that they are in the tank for Trump.
“They want it to end,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told McAuliff. “They want to move on, get it done, without witnesses and documents, taking cues from the White House, shut it down and get beyond.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--Cartoon: An Idiot Hides Evidence

Cartoon: An Idiot Hides Evidence

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-01-22--White House gives press credentials to anti-Semites for Trump's Davos trip

The Trump administration gave TruNews , an anti-Semitic far-right outlet , official credentials to cover the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , the White House Correspondents ' Association confirmed on Wednesday .
TruNews , led by founder Rick Wiles , broadcast from the site on Monday .
`` We just want to thank President Trump and the White House for extending the invitation to be here , '' Wiles told his audience .
`` Your TruNews team was sitting in the audience , very close to the stage .
We got to see the president up close , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're again just honored that we are here .
The White House has treated all of the media with a lot of respect and professionalism and courtesy . ''
Right Wing Watch first reported Wiles ' presence at the event earlier on Wednesday .
The WHCA , which `` does *NOT* make credentialing decisions , '' has since said it is `` raising this issue with the [ White House ] , '' CNN 's Jake Tapper noted .
The Anti-Defamation League ( ADL ) also criticized the decision .
`` Now TruNews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press credentials from the White House .
Unacceptable is an understatement , '' CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted .
TruNews has a long history of rabidly anti-Semitic content .
In November , Wiles referred to the effort to impeach Donald Trump as a `` Jew coup . ''
`` This 'impeach Trump ' effort is a Jew coup and the American people better wake up to it really fast because this thing is moving now toward a vote in the House and then a trial in the Senate , '' Wiles told his viewers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a coup led by Jews to overthrow the constitutionally elected president of the United States and it ’ s beyond removing Donald Trump , it ’ s removing you and me .
That ’ s what ’ s at the heart of it . ''
Despite repeated anti-Semitic content , TruNews has frequently received official credentials to cover the Trump White House and one of its correspondents was called on by Trump to ask questions at a press event in 2018 .
By contrast , the Trump administration has previously denied credentials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year , Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank , who has reported on multiple administrations , had his pass revoked by the Trump team .
The White House cited new rules limiting access to reporters `` physically present at the White House for ... 90 or more days in a 180-day window of time . ''
Before that , the Trump White House revoked press credentials for CNN reporter Jim Acosta after he repeatedly asked Trump challenging questions .
Acosta 's credentials were restored after CNN took the administration to court .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by canceling daily White House press briefings .
Current White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham has never held a briefing , and the last briefing was 317 days ago , on March 11 , 2019 .
The latest controversy comes on the heels of the revelation that senior White House aide Stephen Miller , the architect of the administration 's draconian immigration measures , promoted white supremacist literature and bigoted ideas on multiple occasions .
In December , Trump also hosted Pastor Robert Jeffress at a White House Hanukkah event , despite Jeffress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doomed to hell .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump administration gave TruNews, an anti-Semitic far-right outlet, official credentials to cover the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the White House Correspondents’ Association confirmed on Wednesday.
TruNews, led by founder Rick Wiles, broadcast from the site on Monday.
“We just want to thank President Trump and the White House for extending the invitation to be here,” Wiles told his audience. “Your TruNews team was sitting in the audience, very close to the stage. We got to see the president up close, hear the entire speech, and we’re again just honored that we are here. The White House has treated all of the media with a lot of respect and professionalism and courtesy.”
Right Wing Watch first reported Wiles’ presence at the event earlier on Wednesday.
The WHCA, which “does *NOT* make credentialing decisions,” has since said it is “raising this issue with the [White House],” CNN’s Jake Tapper noted.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also criticized the decision. “Now TruNews is at the WEF in Davos on press credentials from the White House. Unacceptable is an understatement,” CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted.
TruNews has a long history of rabidly anti-Semitic content. In November, Wiles referred to the effort to impeach Donald Trump as a “Jew coup.”
“This ‘impeach Trump’ effort is a Jew coup and the American people better wake up to it really fast because this thing is moving now toward a vote in the House and then a trial in the Senate,” Wiles told his viewers.
Wiles also said, “This is a coup led by Jews to overthrow the constitutionally elected president of the United States and it’s beyond removing Donald Trump, it’s removing you and me. That’s what’s at the heart of it.”
Despite repeated anti-Semitic content, TruNews has frequently received official credentials to cover the Trump White House and one of its correspondents was called on by Trump to ask questions at a press event in 2018.
By contrast, the Trump administration has previously denied credentials to correspondents from legitimate news outlets.
Last year, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank, who has reported on multiple administrations, had his pass revoked by the Trump team. The White House cited new rules limiting access to reporters “physically present at the White House for … 90 or more days in a 180-day window of time.”
Before that, the Trump White House revoked press credentials for CNN reporter Jim Acosta after he repeatedly asked Trump challenging questions. Acosta’s credentials were restored after CNN took the administration to court.
The administration has limited press access more broadly by canceling daily White House press briefings. Current White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham has never held a briefing, and the last briefing was 317 days ago, on March 11, 2019.
The latest controversy comes on the heels of the revelation that senior White House aide Stephen Miller, the architect of the administration’s draconian immigration measures, promoted white supremacist literature and bigoted ideas on multiple occasions.
In December, Trump also hosted Pastor Robert Jeffress at a White House Hanukkah event, despite Jeffress’ past comments about Jews supposedly being doomed to hell.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-22--Trump administration wants to block pregnant people from traveling to US

The Trump administration is coming out with new visa restrictions aimed at restricting `` birth tourism , '' in which women travel to the U.S. to give birth so their children can have a coveted U.S. passport .
The State Department planned to publicize the rules Thursday , according to two officials with knowledge of the plans who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity .
The rules would make it more difficult for pregnant women to travel on a tourist visa .
In one draft of the regulations , they would have to clear an additional hurdle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consular officer that they have another legitimate reason to come to the U.S .
The Trump administration has been restricting all forms of immigration , but Donald Trump has been particularly plagued by the issue of birthright citizenship — anyone born in the U.S. is considered a citizen , under the Constitution .
He has railed against the practice and threatened to end it , but scholars and members of his administration have said it 's not so easy to do .
Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about how officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant to begin with , and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she may be just by looking at her .
Consular officers right now are n't told to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so .
But they would have to determine whether a visa applicant would be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth .
Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the U.S. and abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge up to $ 80,000 to facilitate the practice , offering hotel rooms and medical care .
Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the U.S .
The U.S. has been c racking down on the practice since before Trump took office .
Although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion , coming to the U.S. to give birth is fundamentally legal .
And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .
There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth .
The Center for Immigration Studies , a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws , estimated that in 2012 , about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S. , then left the country .
The draft rule is `` intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks associated with birth tourism , including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry , '' a State Department spokesperson said .

The Trump administration is coming out with new visa restrictions aimed at restricting “birth tourism,” in which women travel to the U.S. to give birth so their children can have a coveted U.S. passport.
The State Department planned to publicize the rules Thursday, according to two officials with knowledge of the plans who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The rules would make it more difficult for pregnant women to travel on a tourist visa. In one draft of the regulations, they would have to clear an additional hurdle before obtaining the visa — convincing a consular officer that they have another legitimate reason to come to the U.S.
The Trump administration has been restricting all forms of immigration, but Donald Trump has been particularly plagued by the issue of birthright citizenship — anyone born in the U.S. is considered a citizen, under the Constitution. He has railed against the practice and threatened to end it, but scholars and members of his administration have said it’s not so easy to do.
Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get at the issue, but it raises questions about how officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant to begin with, and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she may be just by looking at her.
Consular officers right now aren’t told to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so. But they would have to determine whether a visa applicant would be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth.
Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the U.S. and abroad. American companies take out advertisements and charge up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice, offering hotel rooms and medical care. Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the U.S. The U.S. has been c racking down on the practice since before Trump took office.
Although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion, coming to the U.S. to give birth is fundamentally legal. And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals.
There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012, about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S., then left the country.
The draft rule is “intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks associated with birth tourism, including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry,” a State Department spokesperson said.


shareblue--2020-01-22--9 of Lindsey Graham's best arguments for impeachment

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , one of Donald Trump 's closest allies and loyal defenders , has regularly belittled or dismissed evidence that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate a political rival and assertions that Trump has acted to obstruct congressional investigations into the issue .
But in 1999 , when Graham was one of the House managers for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton , he regularly made public statements in support of an investigation of Clinton .
1 ) Graham implored senators to `` please allow the facts to do the talking , '' and told them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the case 's end . ''
2 ) Graham said that a `` high crime '' did n't have to be a criminal act : `` What 's a high crime ?
How about if an important person hurts somebody of low means ?
It 's not very scholarly .
But I think it 's the truth .
I think that 's what they meant by high crimes .
Does n't even have to be a crime . ''
3 ) Graham said that lying justified impeaching President Clinton : `` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the land .
He encouraged people to lie for him .
He lied .
I think he obstructed justice . ''
4 ) Graham slammed Richard Nixon for ignoring a subpoena : `` The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day he was subject to impeachment because he took the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress , and he became the judge and jury . ''
5 ) Graham called for hearings where principals involved in the case could be heard .
`` The depositions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not we go forward with hearings .
I think it 's a very smart thing to do , to depose these people and find out what they 've got to say and not drag this thing out unnecessarily .
And it 's going to end by the end of the year . ''
6 ) Graham called for live witnesses to appear : `` There may be some conflict that has to be resolved by presenting live witnesses … That 's what happens every day in court and I think the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham said impeachment would be negatively impacted if witnesses were n't called : `` The whole point that we 're trying to make is that in every trial that there 's ever been in the Senate , regarding impeachment , witnesses were called . ''
He added , `` You 're basically changing impeachment '' if witnesses are n't called .
8 ) Graham argued that not calling witnesses in the Senate `` would be bad '' for impeachment law : `` That would be bad for impeachment law .
That would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't happen here . ''
9 ) Graham said excluding witnesses and leaving the case to lawyers would `` bore everybody to death '' and avoid getting to the truth : `` You can have three days of lawyers talking to each other on both sides , 16 hours of question , and basically bore everybody to death , talk everybody to death ; but when you have a witness who was there , who was engaged in it , who was in the middle of it telling you about what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a totally different case , and it 's the difference between getting the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth . ''
Now , with Trump , Graham has reversed his positions and even opposed holding a Senate impeachment trial at all .
He opposes calling witnesses , promised to side with Trump before hearing evidence , and has repeatedly argued that Trump did nothing wrong .
It 's like his days as a leader during the Clinton impeachment did n't exist at all .

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of Donald Trump’s closest allies and loyal defenders, has regularly belittled or dismissed evidence that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate a political rival and assertions that Trump has acted to obstruct congressional investigations into the issue.
But in 1999, when Graham was one of the House managers for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, he regularly made public statements in support of an investigation of Clinton.
1) Graham implored senators to “please allow the facts to do the talking,” and told them, “Don’t decide the case before the case’s end.”
2) Graham said that a “high crime” didn’t have to be a criminal act: “What’s a high crime? How about if an important person hurts somebody of low means? It’s not very scholarly. But I think it’s the truth. I think that’s what they meant by high crimes. Doesn’t even have to be a crime.”
3) Graham said that lying justified impeaching President Clinton: “He is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the land. He encouraged people to lie for him. He lied. I think he obstructed justice.”
4) Graham slammed Richard Nixon for ignoring a subpoena: “The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day he was subject to impeachment because he took the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress, and he became the judge and jury.”
5) Graham called for hearings where principals involved in the case could be heard. “The depositions, I think, will determine whether or not we go forward with hearings. I think it’s a very smart thing to do, to depose these people and find out what they’ve got to say and not drag this thing out unnecessarily. And it’s going to end by the end of the year.”
6) Graham called for live witnesses to appear: “There may be some conflict that has to be resolved by presenting live witnesses … That’s what happens every day in court and I think the Senate can stand that.”
7) Graham said impeachment would be negatively impacted if witnesses weren’t called: “The whole point that we’re trying to make is that in every trial that there’s ever been in the Senate, regarding impeachment, witnesses were called.” He added, “You’re basically changing impeachment” if witnesses aren’t called.
8) Graham argued that not calling witnesses in the Senate “would be bad” for impeachment law: “That would be bad for impeachment law. That would be against precedent, and I hope that doesn’t happen here.”
9) Graham said excluding witnesses and leaving the case to lawyers would “bore everybody to death” and avoid getting to the truth: “You can have three days of lawyers talking to each other on both sides, 16 hours of question, and basically bore everybody to death, talk everybody to death; but when you have a witness who was there, who was engaged in it, who was in the middle of it telling you about what they were doing and why, that’s a totally different case, and it’s the difference between getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Now, with Trump, Graham has reversed his positions and even opposed holding a Senate impeachment trial at all. He opposes calling witnesses, promised to side with Trump before hearing evidence, and has repeatedly argued that Trump did nothing wrong. It’s like his days as a leader during the Clinton impeachment didn’t exist at all.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-22--Trump wants to gut Social Security because US has the world's 'hottest' economy

Donald Trump ran on an absolute promise not to cut entitlement and social safety net programs .
On Wednesday , he said he hopes to do just that — and soon .
Asked by CNBC if entitlement cuts were something he would consider , Trump said he would `` toward the end of the year . ''
`` At the right time we will take a look at that , '' he said .
`` You know that 's actually the easiest all things , if you look , because it 's such a low percentage . ''
Mandatory programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security actually make up about half of the federal government 's spending each year .
Trump also dismissed concerns that he would follow through on past promises not to cut Medicare and other mandatory spending programs , claiming the economy under his administration was the world 's `` hottest . ''
`` We also have assets that we never had .
I mean we never had growth like that .
We never had a consumer that was taking in through different means over $ 10,000 per family , '' he claimed .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing so incredibly .
Best they 've ever done .
Black , best they 've ever done .
African American , the numbers are incredible . ''
Trump 's has repeatedly promised not to cut Medicare , Medicaid , and Social Security , never once conditioning that promise on a good economy .
In 2011 , Trump tweeted that a `` robust growing economy is how to fix Social Security and Medicare -- -not cuts on Seniors . ''
Throughout his 2016 campaign , he used it to differentiate himself from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Every Republican wants to do a big number of Social Security .
They want to do it on Medicare , they want to do it on Medicaid , '' Trump said in an April 2015 speech , not long before launching his White House bid .
`` And we ca n't do that .
And it 's not fair to the people that have been paying in for years . ''
In May 2015 , he once again claimed , `` I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security , Medicare & Medicaid . ''
And days later , he told the conservative Daily Signal , `` I ’ m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I ’ m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid . ''
`` Every other Republican is going to cut , and even if they wouldn ’ t , they don ’ t know what to do because they don ’ t know where the money is .
I do .
I do , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Medicaid are wrong .
A robust economy will Make America Great Again ! ''
he tweeted in July that year .
Days before the 2016 election , Trump once again claimed that `` Hillary Clinton is going to destroy your Social Security and Medicare .
I am going to protect and save your Social Security and your Medicare . ''
Again , in December 2017 , Trump 's then-legislative affairs director Marc Short reaffirmed that the campaign promise not to cut Medicare would be honored , though he embraced cuts to Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As recently as October 2018 , Trump claimed that he alone could defend Medicare from attacks , tweeting , `` Democrats will destroy your Medicare , and I will keep it healthy and well ! ''
he said .
In addition to contradicting his past promises , Trump 's suggestion now , that the robust economy makes it easier to cut entitlements , also makes little sense .
While Medicaid provides healthcare to poorer Americans , Medicare and Social Security provide health and retirement income for older Americans of all economic levels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .

Donald Trump ran on an absolute promise not to cut entitlement and social safety net programs. On Wednesday, he said he hopes to do just that — and soon.
Asked by CNBC if entitlement cuts were something he would consider, Trump said he would “toward the end of the year.”
“At the right time we will take a look at that,” he said. “You know, that’s actually the easiest of all things, if you look, because it’s such a low percentage.”
Mandatory programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security actually make up about half of the federal government’s spending each year.
Trump also dismissed concerns that he would follow through on past promises not to cut Medicare and other mandatory spending programs, claiming the economy under his administration was the world’s “hottest.”
“We also have assets that we never had. I mean we never had growth like that. We never had a consumer that was taking in through different means over $10,000 per family,” he claimed. “African American, Asian American, Hispanics are doing so incredibly. Best they’ve ever done. Black, best they’ve ever done. African American, the numbers are incredible.”
Where Trump admits to CNBC’s Joe Kernen this AM that he is looking to CUT Social Security and Medicare at the end of this year. https://t.co/Ce1mkhB2RA pic.twitter.com/pV6AuNAtcm — Jennifer Baty (@JenBaty) January 22, 2020
Trump’s has repeatedly promised not to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, never once conditioning that promise on a good economy.
In 2011, Trump tweeted that a “robust growing economy is how to fix Social Security and Medicare—not cuts on Seniors.”
Throughout his 2016 campaign, he used it to differentiate himself from the rest of his party and even Democrats.
“Every Republican wants to do a big number of Social Security. They want to do it on Medicare, they want to do it on Medicaid,” Trump said in an April 2015 speech, not long before launching his White House bid. “And we can’t do that. And it’s not fair to the people that have been paying in for years.”
In May 2015, he once again claimed, “I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid.”
And days later, he told the conservative Daily Signal, “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.”
“Every other Republican is going to cut, and even if they wouldn’t, they don’t know what to do because they don’t know where the money is. I do. I do,” he said.
That June, upon launching his campaign, Trump boasted that he could save those programs — with no cuts — by getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.
“The Republicans who want to cut SS & Medicaid are wrong. A robust economy will Make America Great Again!” he tweeted in July that year.
Days before the 2016 election, Trump once again claimed that “Hillary Clinton is going to destroy your Social Security and Medicare. I am going to protect and save your Social Security and your Medicare.” Again, in December 2017, Trump’s then-legislative affairs director Marc Short reaffirmed that the campaign promise not to cut Medicare would be honored, though he embraced cuts to Medicaid to “protect the program.”
As recently as October 2018, Trump claimed that he alone could defend Medicare from attacks, tweeting, “Democrats will destroy your Medicare, and I will keep it healthy and well!” he said.
In addition to contradicting his past promises, Trump’s suggestion now, that the robust economy makes it easier to cut entitlements, also makes little sense.
While Medicaid provides healthcare to poorer Americans, Medicare and Social Security provide health and retirement income for older Americans of all economic levels.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-22--Indiana anti-abortion bill would tell police to just ignore federal law

An Indiana Republican lawmaker introduced an extreme anti-abortion bill last week that bans abortion at every stage of pregnancy , declaring that `` human physical life begins when a human ovum is fertilized by a human sperm . ''
The bill , introduced by state GOP Rep. Curt Nisly , is the latest attempt by GOP lawmakers in states across the country to ban abortion .
According to WRTV , `` The 37-page bill ... changes the definition of 'human being ' from 'an individual who has been born and is alive ' to 'having human physical life , regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' making any abortion murder under the law . ''
The outlet noted that the bill also `` removes all references to abortions or abortion clinics , since abortions would be considered murder . ''
The bill notably includes a provision saying the state will ignore any federal court decisions that strike the abortion ban down and threatens to arrest any federal law enforcement officers who try and stop Indiana from carrying out the ban .
`` Any court decision purporting to ... enjoin the state of Indiana from protecting innocent human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall be treated as nonauthoritative , void , and of no force , '' the bill text says .
Of course , there are no mechanisms to simply ignore a federal court order .
Those who refuse to follow a federal court order can be arrested and charged with contempt of court .
The Indiana bill follows in the footsteps of states such as Alabama — which sought to ban abortion in all instances and imprison doctors who performed the procedure — and Ohio , which raised the prospect of charging women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These extreme bans are an attempt by GOP lawmakers to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade , the landmark case that grants women the right to an abortion .
The Republican lawmakers hope that the bans get challenged in federal court and ultimately land in the hands of the conservative-majority at the Supreme Court , which it hopes would strike down Roe altogether .
Court challenges are currently pending against abortion bans in states such as Alabama .
And Alabama 's law is currently on hold , after a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until a court challenge is finalized .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

An Indiana Republican lawmaker introduced an extreme anti-abortion bill last week that bans abortion at every stage of pregnancy, declaring that “human physical life begins when a human ovum is fertilized by a human sperm.”
The bill, introduced by state GOP Rep. Curt Nisly, is the latest attempt by GOP lawmakers in states across the country to ban abortion.
According to WRTV, “The 37-page bill … changes the definition of ‘human being’ from ‘an individual who has been born and is alive’ to ‘having human physical life, regardless of whether the individual has been born,’ making any abortion murder under the law.”
The outlet noted that the bill also “removes all references to abortions or abortion clinics, since abortions would be considered murder.”
The bill notably includes a provision saying the state will ignore any federal court decisions that strike the abortion ban down and threatens to arrest any federal law enforcement officers who try and stop Indiana from carrying out the ban.
“Any court decision purporting to… enjoin the state of Indiana from protecting innocent human physical life from the moment of conception shall be treated as nonauthoritative, void, and of no force,” the bill text says.
Of course, there are no mechanisms to simply ignore a federal court order. Those who refuse to follow a federal court order can be arrested and charged with contempt of court.
The Indiana bill follows in the footsteps of states such as Alabama — which sought to ban abortion in all instances and imprison doctors who performed the procedure — and Ohio, which raised the prospect of charging women who receive abortions with the death penalty.
These extreme bans are an attempt by GOP lawmakers to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that grants women the right to an abortion. The Republican lawmakers hope that the bans get challenged in federal court and ultimately land in the hands of the conservative-majority at the Supreme Court, which it hopes would strike down Roe altogether.
Court challenges are currently pending against abortion bans in states such as Alabama. And Alabama’s law is currently on hold, after a federal judge blocked the state from enforcing it until a court challenge is finalized.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-22--Court rules Trump administration can't force bogus sex ed on teens

Earlier this month , the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit delivered a resounding victory for reproductive health rights when it issued a ruling in Planned Parenthood v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
It also delivered a resounding push back against the Trump administration , which has made a singular focus of attacking even the most celebrated and effective reproductive health care measures .
In this lawsuit , Planned Parenthood challenged a recent Trump administration mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services direct money to `` abstinence-only '' programs , which are notoriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's new rule radically changed the nation 's approach to preventing teen pregnancy .
The Obama administration took a multipronged approach to decrease teen pregnancy rates , funding organizations that promoted safer sex , addressed gender roles , worked to increase teen self-confidence , and more .
And that approach helped teen birth rates reach an all-time low in the country in 2017 .
In theory , that should have been the end of the discussion .
HHS was employing an approach that had been wildly successful .
But when Trump came into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of religious conservatives obsessed with controlling and suppressing teen sexuality rather than addressing it in a reasonable , healthy way — one that acknowledges that a substantial number of teenagers have sex .
The most notable of these religious conservatives is Trump 's vice president , Mike Pence .
Pence has spent much of his political career trying to shutter Planned Parenthood , and he does n't even believe basic truths about reproductive health , like the fact that condoms prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases .
That stance requires Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data from both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control .
As vice president , Pence has spearheaded a major shift in funding , from giving money to organizations that provide comprehensive reproductive health care to giving to organizations that refuse to provide birth control and spread misinformation about abortions based on their religious beliefs .
Of course , Pence is n't the only problem here .
Before she joined the administration , HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Diane Foley ran these types of organizations , also known as crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating how to put on a condom could be sexual harassment .
Another Trump official , Valerie Huber , now a senior policy advisor in the Office of Global Affairs at HHS , was in charge of the National Abstinence Educators Association before she landed her government role .
Huber has also been largely responsible for a key shift in messaging about abstinence-only education .
With these people at the helm , it was inevitable that HHS would shift to abstinence-only teen sexual education programs .
They 've even rebranded with Huber 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' to obscure their real goals .
However , HHS overlooked one key thing , and it proved to be fatal to their goal .
The authorizing law for teen pregnancy prevention funding requires that a substantial portion of its program must use `` evidence-based education models that have been shown to be effective in reducing teen pregnancy and related risk behaviors . ''
There 's little to no evidence that abstinence-only education — even when it 's called `` sexual risk avoidance '' instead — reduces teen pregnancy or decreases related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abstinence-only programs `` are not effective in delaying initiation of sexual intercourse or changing other sexual risk behaviors . ''
Worse , such programs `` inherently withhold information about human sexuality and may provide medically inaccurate and stigmatizing information . ''
They 're so bad that the effectiveness of such programs `` may approach zero . ''
HHS entirely ignored the law 's requirements , which it can not do .
Even under Trump , agencies ca n't exceed the authority given to them by Congress , and they ca n't enact rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intent . ''
But that 's exactly what HHS did here .
It enacted rules requiring organizations to focus on abstinence-only education , which flew in the face of the evidence-based requirement .
Because of that , the court here found that the rules were `` contrary to the TPPP and hence contrary to law . ''
This is the first ruling by a federal court of appeals on the matter and it `` clear [ s ] the way for organizations to fight changes to funding rules . ''
There 's the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach the U.S. Supreme Court , which is currently dominated by people like Justice Brett Kavanaugh , who would have blocked a detained migrant minor from getting an abortion .
Justice Clarence Thomas is notoriously anti-choice and has begged the Supreme Court to take up an abortion case , presumably to overturn or thoroughly gut Roe v. Wade .
And Justice Samuel Alito has explicitly said he does not think the Constitution protects the right to choose .
For now , however , Planned Parenthood is victorious .
The court recognized that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for well-reasoned congressional goals .
In the face of an administration wholly committed to disinformation about sexuality and reproductive health , facts and science won out .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Earlier this month, the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit delivered a resounding victory for reproductive health rights when it issued a ruling in Planned Parenthood v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It also delivered a resounding push back against the Trump administration, which has made a singular focus of attacking even the most celebrated and effective reproductive health care measures.
In this lawsuit, Planned Parenthood challenged a recent Trump administration mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services direct money to “abstinence-only” programs, which are notoriously ineffective at preventing teen pregnancy.
Trump’s new rule radically changed the nation’s approach to preventing teen pregnancy. The Obama administration took a multipronged approach to decrease teen pregnancy rates, funding organizations that promoted safer sex, addressed gender roles, worked to increase teen self-confidence, and more. And that approach helped teen birth rates reach an all-time low in the country in 2017.
In theory, that should have been the end of the discussion. HHS was employing an approach that had been wildly successful. But when Trump came into office, he brought with him a number of religious conservatives obsessed with controlling and suppressing teen sexuality rather than addressing it in a reasonable, healthy way — one that acknowledges that a substantial number of teenagers have sex.
The most notable of these religious conservatives is Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence. Pence has spent much of his political career trying to shutter Planned Parenthood, and he doesn’t even believe basic truths about reproductive health, like the fact that condoms prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. That stance requires Pence to completely ignore reality, and government data from both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control. As vice president, Pence has spearheaded a major shift in funding, from giving money to organizations that provide comprehensive reproductive health care to giving to organizations that refuse to provide birth control and spread misinformation about abortions based on their religious beliefs.
Of course, Pence isn’t the only problem here. Before she joined the administration, HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Diane Foley ran these types of organizations, also known as crisis pregnancy centers. She’s also said demonstrating how to put on a condom could be sexual harassment.
Another Trump official, Valerie Huber, now a senior policy advisor in the Office of Global Affairs at HHS, was in charge of the National Abstinence Educators Association before she landed her government role. Huber has also been largely responsible for a key shift in messaging about abstinence-only education.
With these people at the helm, it was inevitable that HHS would shift to abstinence-only teen sexual education programs. They’ve even rebranded with Huber’s preferred term, “sexual risk avoidance,” to obscure their real goals.
However, HHS overlooked one key thing, and it proved to be fatal to their goal. The authorizing law for teen pregnancy prevention funding requires that a substantial portion of its program must use “evidence-based education models that have been shown to be effective in reducing teen pregnancy and related risk behaviors.”
There’s little to no evidence that abstinence-only education — even when it’s called “sexual risk avoidance” instead — reduces teen pregnancy or decreases related risks. Rather, research shows that abstinence-only programs “are not effective in delaying initiation of sexual intercourse or changing other sexual risk behaviors.” Worse, such programs “inherently withhold information about human sexuality and may provide medically inaccurate and stigmatizing information.” They’re so bad that the effectiveness of such programs “may approach zero.”
HHS entirely ignored the law’s requirements, which it cannot do. Even under Trump, agencies can’t exceed the authority given to them by Congress, and they can’t enact rules that are “contrary to clear congressional intent.” But that’s exactly what HHS did here. It enacted rules requiring organizations to focus on abstinence-only education, which flew in the face of the evidence-based requirement.
Because of that, the court here found that the rules were “contrary to the TPPP and hence contrary to law.” This is the first ruling by a federal court of appeals on the matter and it “clear[s] the way for organizations to fight changes to funding rules.”
There’s the looming problem that these cases could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which is currently dominated by people like Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who would have blocked a detained migrant minor from getting an abortion. Justice Clarence Thomas is notoriously anti-choice and has begged the Supreme Court to take up an abortion case, presumably to overturn or thoroughly gut Roe v. Wade. And Justice Samuel Alito has explicitly said he does not think the Constitution protects the right to choose.
For now, however, Planned Parenthood is victorious. The court recognized that this administration cannot substitute its evangelical fervor for well-reasoned congressional goals. In the face of an administration wholly committed to disinformation about sexuality and reproductive health, facts and science won out.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-01-23--US general says troops could be in Middle East for a while

Over the past eight months , the United States has poured more than 20,000 additional troops into the Middle East to counter the escalating threat from Iran that peaked with the recent missile attack on American forces in Iraq .
Despite Donald Trump 's pledge to bring troops home , the top U.S. commander in the Middle East on Thursday said the most recent forces to enter the region could be there for `` quite a while . ''
`` You 're here because I requested that you come , '' Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie told sailors and Marines aboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his voice booming over the ship 's loudspeaker .
`` I 'm not sure how long you 're going to stay in the theater .
We 'll work that out as we go ahead .
Could be quite a while , could be less than that , just do n't know right now . ''
The Bataan and two other U.S. warships moved into the Middle East on Jan. 11 .
By Thursday , they were in the north Red Sea , roughly 50 miles south of the Sinai Peninsula .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence in the region .
Since May , their numbers have grown from about 60,000 to more than 80,000 .
Those increased deployments came despite two significant hurdles : Trump 's persistent pledge to end the wars and bring troops home , and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper 's insistence that U.S. forces be shifted to the Asia-Pacific as a bulwark against threats from China .
In making its case for troops in the Middle East , the U.S. military points to Iran 's Jan. 8 launch of as many as two dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. troops were stationed .
The attack was in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani , Iran 's top general .
`` Iran continues to pose a very real threat , '' McKenzie told reporters traveling with him to the Bataan .
`` I do believe that they are deterred right now , at least from state-on-state actions by our response .
And so I think that while that threat remains , I think we 're in a period where they 're certainly not seeking to escalate anything .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian proxy forces , who may strike with or without direction from Iranian leaders , still present a threat .
He noted that Iranian attacks against Saudi Arabia last fall came as a surprise .
`` Iran is very hard to read , '' McKenzie said .
`` So I would say the fact that things are quiet for a while does not mean that necessarily things are getting better . ''
To help deter additional Iranian attacks , McKenzie asked to have the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group , which includes two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , divert from their original mission in Europe and go through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea .
There are about 2,500 Marines and 1,500 sailors on the three ships .
That decision is the latest move since May to bolster the American presence in the region , including the deployment of the 1st Brigade , 82nd Airborne division , to Kuwait and Iraq after the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was attacked .
The United States also moved an aircraft carrier into the region last year .
It has left and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Pentagon has sent additional fighter jets , bomber aircraft , and Patriot missile batteries to the Middle East to provide additional security for U.S. troops and allies and as a show of force to deter attacks by Iran .
Those moves have increased the U.S. troop strength in the region to more than 83,000 , based on numbers from several U.S. officials and other government agencies that track military movements .
Asked about the increase , McKenzie said he understands the demand for troops in other parts of the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the level of risk in the Middle East .
Esper , who has approved the moves , is looking closely at worldwide deployments in a broader effort to meet the needs of the national defense strategy that identified China and Russia as the key future threats .
Even as McKenzie was traveling to the Bataan , Esper was in Florida telling reporters that Russia and China are `` mission number one . ''
`` There 's only a finite number of dollars , a finite number of troops , so I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best place to put them ?
I 've articulated in the past that I want to either return forces to the States to improve their readiness , or redeploy others '' to the IndoPacific , Esper said .
Trump has argued that the United States must get out of the `` endless wars '' in the Middle East .
But he has also singled out Iran as a malign influence in the region , and after the Iranian missile strikes , was quick to threaten revenge .
After hundreds of Iranian-supported militiamen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early January , Trump tweeted , `` They will pay a very BIG PRICE !
This is not a Warning , it is a Threat .
Happy New Year ! ''
Trump also approved the airstrike on Soleimani , which triggered the Iranian reprisal .
Some U.S. troops were flown out of Iraq for evaluation of concussion-like symptom after the missile strikes .
Senior U.S. officials have noted the relative calm after the Iranian strikes , saying both the U.S. and Iran want to deescalate tensions .
But McKenzie said that while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he worries that cooler heads may not prevail in Iran .
So when he went to the microphone on the Bataan , where Marine Harrier jets intermittently roared down the ship 's deck into the air , he issued a warning .
`` You need to be ready because I may need to employ you on very short notice and on some very difficult missions , '' he said .

Over the past eight months, the United States has poured more than 20,000 additional troops into the Middle East to counter the escalating threat from Iran that peaked with the recent missile attack on American forces in Iraq.
Despite Donald Trump’s pledge to bring troops home, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East on Thursday said the most recent forces to enter the region could be there for “quite a while.”
“You’re here because I requested that you come,” Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie told sailors and Marines aboard the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship, his voice booming over the ship’s loudspeaker. “I’m not sure how long you’re going to stay in the theater. We’ll work that out as we go ahead. Could be quite a while, could be less than that, just don’t know right now.”
The Bataan and two other U.S. warships moved into the Middle East on Jan. 11. By Thursday, they were in the north Red Sea, roughly 50 miles south of the Sinai Peninsula. They are the latest additions to America’s troop presence in the region. Since May, their numbers have grown from about 60,000 to more than 80,000.
Those increased deployments came despite two significant hurdles: Trump’s persistent pledge to end the wars and bring troops home, and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s insistence that U.S. forces be shifted to the Asia-Pacific as a bulwark against threats from China.
In making its case for troops in the Middle East, the U.S. military points to Iran’s Jan. 8 launch of as many as two dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases where U.S. troops were stationed. The attack was in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s top general.
“Iran continues to pose a very real threat,” McKenzie told reporters traveling with him to the Bataan. “I do believe that they are deterred right now, at least from state-on-state actions by our response. And so I think that while that threat remains, I think we’re in a period where they’re certainly not seeking to escalate anything.”
He added, however, that Iranian proxy forces, who may strike with or without direction from Iranian leaders, still present a threat. He noted that Iranian attacks against Saudi Arabia last fall came as a surprise.
“Iran is very hard to read,” McKenzie said. “So I would say the fact that things are quiet for a while does not mean that necessarily things are getting better.”
To help deter additional Iranian attacks, McKenzie asked to have the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, which includes two other ships and a Marine Expeditionary Unit, divert from their original mission in Europe and go through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. There are about 2,500 Marines and 1,500 sailors on the three ships.
That decision is the latest move since May to bolster the American presence in the region, including the deployment of the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne division, to Kuwait and Iraq after the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was attacked. The United States also moved an aircraft carrier into the region last year. It has left and was replaced by the USS Harry S. Truman. The Pentagon has sent additional fighter jets, bomber aircraft, and Patriot missile batteries to the Middle East to provide additional security for U.S. troops and allies and as a show of force to deter attacks by Iran.
Those moves have increased the U.S. troop strength in the region to more than 83,000, based on numbers from several U.S. officials and other government agencies that track military movements.
Asked about the increase, McKenzie said he understands the demand for troops in other parts of the world, and he has had discussions with Esper about the level of risk in the Middle East.
Esper, who has approved the moves, is looking closely at worldwide deployments in a broader effort to meet the needs of the national defense strategy that identified China and Russia as the key future threats. Even as McKenzie was traveling to the Bataan, Esper was in Florida telling reporters that Russia and China are “mission number one.”
“There’s only a finite number of dollars, a finite number of troops, so I’ve got to figure out, where is the best place to put them? I’ve articulated in the past that I want to either return forces to the States to improve their readiness, or redeploy others” to the IndoPacific, Esper said.
Trump has argued that the United States must get out of the “endless wars” in the Middle East. But he has also singled out Iran as a malign influence in the region, and after the Iranian missile strikes, was quick to threaten revenge.
After hundreds of Iranian-supported militiamen breached the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in early January, Trump tweeted, “They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!” Trump also approved the airstrike on Soleimani, which triggered the Iranian reprisal. Some U.S. troops were flown out of Iraq for evaluation of concussion-like symptom after the missile strikes.
Senior U.S. officials have noted the relative calm after the Iranian strikes, saying both the U.S. and Iran want to deescalate tensions.
But McKenzie said that while the United States wants to be “coolheaded,” he worries that cooler heads may not prevail in Iran.
So when he went to the microphone on the Bataan, where Marine Harrier jets intermittently roared down the ship’s deck into the air, he issued a warning.
“You need to be ready because I may need to employ you on very short notice and on some very difficult missions,” he said.