shareblue--2020-02-19--Trump claims he 'barely knows' former GOP congressman he praised repeatedly

Donald Trump on Wednesday falsely claimed to `` barely know '' former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher , hours after Rohrabacher 's name was summoned in a London court filing on behalf of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange .
Lawyers for Assange alleged in the filing that the California Republican had dangled a pardon from Trump back in 2017 .
`` The President barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he 's an ex-congressman , '' White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Wednesday .
`` He 's never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total lie .
This is probably another never ending hoax and total lie from the [ Democratic National Committee ] . ''
According to the court filing , back in 2017 , Rohrabacher offered Assange a pardon from Trump if Assange publicly denied that Russia was behind the now-infamous DNC email hack .
( The American Independent has not independently confirmed this claim . )
The hacked emails were later published on WikiLeaks in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election .
Assange has claimed previously that Russia had nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the contrary .
The U.S. intelligence community unanimously agrees that Russia was behind the hacking and dissemination of the DNC 's emails and did so in an effort to hurt Hillary Clinton 's candidacy .
Rohrabacher himself publicly admitted in a 2018 interview with the YouTube channel Costa Mesa Brief that he flew to London previously and met with Assange about the WikiLeaks hack .
Rohrabacher claimed Assange had offered to give the U.S. government proof that the hack was not carried out by Russia , in exchange for protection from prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would `` get it to the president '' to `` find out about it . ''
A 2017 Wall Street Journal report claimed Rohrabacher had in fact contacted the White House to broker a deal .
Assange for his part claimed in a 2017 tweet that `` offers have been made to me '' regarding the source of the hacked materials , but insisted he had dismissed the offers , claiming , `` WikiLeaks never has and never will reveal a source . ''
Trump , however , now denies knowing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assange , WikiLeaks , or Russia 's hacking of the DNC .
Yet there is ample evidence that Trump does know Rohrabacher , who earned the nickname `` Putin 's favorite congressman '' for his close ties to the Russian dictator .
Trump met with Rohrabacher in April 2017 , just a few months after taking office , according to a White House press briefing by Sean Spicer at the time .
Trump personally invited Rohrabacher to the White House after he saw the California congressman on Fox News defending him , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , during a National Space Council signing event in the East Room of the White House , Trump specifically shouted out Rohrabacher , who was sitting in the audience .
Trump first called on Rohrabacher and other legislators to stand , before later singling out the California lawmaker by name .
`` America ’ s vital interest in space lost out to special interests in Washington , except , of course , for the senators and congressmen here .
They would never do it .
Right , Dana ? ''
he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 2018 reelection bid , which Rohrabacher ultimately lost to Democrat Harley Rouda by more than 7 points .
`` Congratulations to Dana Rohrabacher on his big California win .
We are proud of you Dana ! ''
Trump tweeted in June 2018 , after the California primary .
Trump later endorsed Rohrabacher again , days before the 2018 midterm election .
`` Dana Rohrabacher has been a great Congressman for his District and for the people of Cal .
He works hard and is respected by all - he produces !
Dems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast sums to elect a super liberal who is weak on Crime and bad for our Military & Vets ! ''
Trump tweeted on Nov. 5 , 2018 .
Trump , for his part , often denies knowing people who have been caught up in controversy , even when public links between them are evident .
He denied knowing indicted Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas earlier this year after Parnas was charged with campaign finance violations .
Video of Trump and Parnas having dinner together surfaced later , disproving that claim .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now-former United States ambassador to the European Union who was a key figure in the Ukraine scheme that got Trump impeached .
Trump , however , had tweeted praise of Sondland multiple times .
He went on to fire Sondland after Senate Republicans acquitted Trump of the impeachment charges .
Additionally , Trump has downplayed his connections to other convicted felons , including his own former campaign chairman Paul Manafort , who was sentenced in March last year to 47 months in prison for a number of crimes , including tax and bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the course of special counsel Robert Mueller 's nearly two-year-long Russia probe .
After the FBI first raided Manafort 's residences in 2017 , Trump admitted that he knew Manafort but that he `` [ had n't ] spoken to him in a long time . ''
He added , `` He was with the campaign , as you know , for a very short period of time , relatively short period of time . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Wednesday falsely claimed to “barely know” former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, hours after Rohrabacher’s name was summoned in a London court filing on behalf of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Lawyers for Assange alleged in the filing that the California Republican had dangled a pardon from Trump back in 2017.
“The President barely knows Dana Rohrabacher other than he’s an ex-congressman,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Wednesday. “He’s never spoken to him on this subject or almost any subject. It is is a complete fabrication and a total lie. This is probably another never ending hoax and total lie from the [Democratic National Committee].”
According to the court filing, back in 2017, Rohrabacher offered Assange a pardon from Trump if Assange publicly denied that Russia was behind the now-infamous DNC email hack. (The American Independent has not independently confirmed this claim.)
The hacked emails were later published on WikiLeaks in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election.
Assange has claimed previously that Russia had nothing to do with the hack, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The U.S. intelligence community unanimously agrees that Russia was behind the hacking and dissemination of the DNC’s emails and did so in an effort to hurt Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
Rohrabacher himself publicly admitted in a 2018 interview with the YouTube channel Costa Mesa Brief that he flew to London previously and met with Assange about the WikiLeaks hack. Rohrabacher claimed Assange had offered to give the U.S. government proof that the hack was not carried out by Russia, in exchange for protection from prosecution. Rohrabacher said he had told Assange he would “get it to the president” to “find out about it.”
A 2017 Wall Street Journal report claimed Rohrabacher had in fact contacted the White House to broker a deal.
Assange for his part claimed in a 2017 tweet that “offers have been made to me” regarding the source of the hacked materials, but insisted he had dismissed the offers, claiming, “WikiLeaks never has and never will reveal a source.”
Trump, however, now denies knowing or talking to Rohrabacher about anything related to Assange, WikiLeaks, or Russia’s hacking of the DNC.
Yet there is ample evidence that Trump does know Rohrabacher, who earned the nickname “Putin’s favorite congressman” for his close ties to the Russian dictator.
Trump met with Rohrabacher in April 2017, just a few months after taking office, according to a White House press briefing by Sean Spicer at the time. Trump personally invited Rohrabacher to the White House after he saw the California congressman on Fox News defending him, according to a Politico report.
In June 2018, during a National Space Council signing event in the East Room of the White House, Trump specifically shouted out Rohrabacher, who was sitting in the audience.
Trump first called on Rohrabacher and other legislators to stand, before later singling out the California lawmaker by name.
“America’s vital interest in space lost out to special interests in Washington, except, of course, for the senators and congressmen here. They would never do it. Right, Dana?” he said.
Trump also praised Rohrabacher and endorsed his 2018 reelection bid, which Rohrabacher ultimately lost to Democrat Harley Rouda by more than 7 points.
“Congratulations to Dana Rohrabacher on his big California win. We are proud of you Dana!” Trump tweeted in June 2018, after the California primary.
Trump later endorsed Rohrabacher again, days before the 2018 midterm election.
“Dana Rohrabacher has been a great Congressman for his District and for the people of Cal. He works hard and is respected by all – he produces! Dems are desperate to replace Dana by spending vast sums to elect a super liberal who is weak on Crime and bad for our Military & Vets!” Trump tweeted on Nov. 5, 2018.
Trump, for his part, often denies knowing people who have been caught up in controversy, even when public links between them are evident.
He denied knowing indicted Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas earlier this year after Parnas was charged with campaign finance violations. Video of Trump and Parnas having dinner together surfaced later, disproving that claim.
Trump also denied knowing Gordon Sondland, the now-former United States ambassador to the European Union who was a key figure in the Ukraine scheme that got Trump impeached. Trump, however, had tweeted praise of Sondland multiple times. He went on to fire Sondland after Senate Republicans acquitted Trump of the impeachment charges.
Additionally, Trump has downplayed his connections to other convicted felons, including his own former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was sentenced in March last year to 47 months in prison for a number of crimes, including tax and bank fraud. Manafort’s misdeeds were discovered in the course of special counsel Robert Mueller’s nearly two-year-long Russia probe.
After the FBI first raided Manafort’s residences in 2017, Trump admitted that he knew Manafort but that he “[hadn’t] spoken to him in a long time.” He added, ” He was with the campaign, as you know, for a very short period of time, relatively short period of time.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-19--Voters in Kentucky break record for registration ahead of 2020 election

A record number of Kentucky residents are registered to vote as of Jan. 31 , Secretary of State Michael Adams ( R ) announced on Tuesday .
More than 3.4 million Kentuckians are now registered , marking a new high for the state .
In his statement , Adams encouraged `` every eligible person who is not registered to vote to do so by April 20 , the last day to register to vote in the May 19 primary . ''
According to the Kentucky Secretary of State 's Office , 48 % of Kentucky voters are registered as Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 % are `` listed under other affiliations . ''
Adams said Kentucky had `` relatively high voter turnout in 2019 '' and he hopes `` Kentuckians will show up strong at the polls '' this year to select both a president and senator as well as state officials .
In 2019 , Kentucky voters ousted Republican Matt Bevin from the governor 's mansion , voting for Democrat Andy Beshear .
In one of his first acts as governor , Beshear signed an executive order restoring the voting rights to roughly 100,000 nonviolent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be on the ballot , likely facing Democrat Amy McGrath .
McGrath raised nearly $ 17 million in the last six months of 2019 in her bid to unseat McConnell , according to Newsweek .
First elected to the Senate in 1984 , McConnell faces some headwinds this year , even in a state that supported Trump by a 30-point margin in 2016 .
According to Morning Consult , McConnell is the second least popular senator in the county , bested only by Sen. Susan Collins ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of Kentuckians disapprove of McConnell , only 37 % approve .
Among independents in the state , 22 % more disapprove of McConnell than approve of him .
As voters register in record numbers , Jared Dearing , the executive director of the state 's Board of Elections , told a Kentucky state legislative subcommittee on Tuesday that Kentucky 's systems are regularly scanned by foreign actors such as Russia and North Korea .
Dearing , a Democrat , plans to hire an information security officer to help protect the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of foreign interference came less than a week after the McConnell-led Senate blocked three election security bills from moving forward .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A record number of Kentucky residents are registered to vote as of Jan. 31, Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) announced on Tuesday.
More than 3.4 million Kentuckians are now registered, marking a new high for the state.
In his statement, Adams encouraged “every eligible person who is not registered to vote to do so by April 20, the last day to register to vote in the May 19 primary.”
According to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, 48% of Kentucky voters are registered as Democrats, 43% are Republicans, and 9% are “listed under other affiliations.”
Adams said Kentucky had “relatively high voter turnout in 2019” and he hopes “Kentuckians will show up strong at the polls” this year to select both a president and senator as well as state officials.
In 2019, Kentucky voters ousted Republican Matt Bevin from the governor’s mansion, voting for Democrat Andy Beshear. In one of his first acts as governor, Beshear signed an executive order restoring the voting rights to roughly 100,000 nonviolent felons in the state.
In November, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will be on the ballot, likely facing Democrat Amy McGrath. McGrath raised nearly $17 million in the last six months of 2019 in her bid to unseat McConnell, according to Newsweek.
First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell faces some headwinds this year, even in a state that supported Trump by a 30-point margin in 2016. According to Morning Consult, McConnell is the second least popular senator in the county, bested only by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in that category. While 50% of Kentuckians disapprove of McConnell, only 37% approve.
Among independents in the state, 22% more disapprove of McConnell than approve of him.
As voters register in record numbers, Jared Dearing, the executive director of the state’s Board of Elections, told a Kentucky state legislative subcommittee on Tuesday that Kentucky’s systems are regularly scanned by foreign actors such as Russia and North Korea. Dearing, a Democrat, plans to hire an information security officer to help protect the state’s voting infrastructure.
Dearing’s warning of foreign interference came less than a week after the McConnell-led Senate blocked three election security bills from moving forward.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-19--Pompeo condemns China for banning reporters weeks after he did the same

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday condemned China for expelling three Wall Street Journal reporters from the country , saying China should respect free speech .
According to a spokesperson for China 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the reporters ' credentials were revoked this week over an editorial headline the government did not like .
The Journal said the reporters had been ordered to leave the country within five days .
On Wednesday , Pompeo spoke out against the decision .
`` The United States condemns China ’ s expulsion of three Wall Street Journal foreign correspondents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Mature , responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions .
The correct response is to present counter arguments , not restrict speech .
The United States hopes that the Chinese people will enjoy the same access to accurate information and freedom of speech that Americans enjoy . ''
Pompeo 's condemnation of China and defense of a free press comes just three weeks after Pompeo himself smeared an NPR reporter because she asked a question he did n't like , and then banned that reporter 's outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During an interview in January , NPR 's Mary Louise Kelly asked Pompeo why he had not publicly defended Marie Yovanovitch , the former United States ambassador to Ukraine , who testified against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry last fall .
Yovanovitch was pulled from her post in May last year after being targeted with a smear campaign by Donald Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Giuliani 's associates .
In an interview with the New Yorker in November , Giuliani admitted he had wanted Yovanovitch removed because she `` was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everybody , '' referring to Trump 's repeated attempts to force Ukraine to investigate his political rivals .
Pompeo never publicly declared support for the ambassador , despite the baseless smears and repeated attacks from Trump , who referred to Yovanovitch as part of `` the swamp . ''
In the NPR interview , Pompeo was confronted about that silence , to which he replied , `` I 've defended every single person on this team .
I 've done what 's right for every single person on this team . ''
Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her and demanding that she identify where Ukraine was on a map .
Days after that incident , Pompeo banned NPR from his planned trip to Europe and Central Asia .
According to an NPR spokesperson who spoke with Vox at the time , the NPR reporter who had been scheduled to serve as the pool radio reporter on the trip `` was informed that she would not be traveling '' and `` was not given a reason . ''
Trump himself has frequently attacked the press for reporting accurate news he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are not favorable to him `` fake news . ''
Trump has also called the media the `` enemy of the people , '' suggesting they are a threat to the country .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday condemned China for expelling three Wall Street Journal reporters from the country, saying China should respect free speech.
According to a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the reporters’ credentials were revoked this week over an editorial headline the government did not like. The Journal said the reporters had been ordered to leave the country within five days.
On Wednesday, Pompeo spoke out against the decision.
“The United States condemns China’s expulsion of three Wall Street Journal foreign correspondents,” he said in a statement. “Mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions. The correct response is to present counter arguments, not restrict speech. The United States hopes that the Chinese people will enjoy the same access to accurate information and freedom of speech that Americans enjoy.”
Pompeo’s condemnation of China and defense of a free press comes just three weeks after Pompeo himself smeared an NPR reporter because she asked a question he didn’t like, and then banned that reporter’s outlet from a foreign trip he took.
During an interview in January, NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly asked Pompeo why he had not publicly defended Marie Yovanovitch, the former United States ambassador to Ukraine, who testified against Trump in the House impeachment inquiry last fall.
Yovanovitch was pulled from her post in May last year after being targeted with a smear campaign by Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Giuliani’s associates. In an interview with the New Yorker in November, Giuliani admitted he had wanted Yovanovitch removed because she “was going to make the investigations difficult for everybody,” referring to Trump’s repeated attempts to force Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Pompeo never publicly declared support for the ambassador, despite the baseless smears and repeated attacks from Trump, who referred to Yovanovitch as part of “the swamp.”
In the NPR interview, Pompeo was confronted about that silence, to which he replied, “I’ve defended every single person on this team. I’ve done what’s right for every single person on this team.”
Pompeo later questioned Kelly’s intelligence, berating her and demanding that she identify where Ukraine was on a map.
Days after that incident, Pompeo banned NPR from his planned trip to Europe and Central Asia.
According to an NPR spokesperson who spoke with Vox at the time, the NPR reporter who had been scheduled to serve as the pool radio reporter on the trip “was informed that she would not be traveling” and “was not given a reason.”
Trump himself has frequently attacked the press for reporting accurate news he doesn’t like. He deems any facts that are not favorable to him “fake news.”
Trump has also called the media the “enemy of the people,” suggesting they are a threat to the country.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-19--GOP lawmaker: Confederate memorial 'should be honored' like MLK memorial

On Monday , Republican state Rep. Mike Hill from Florida called for protecting and honoring memorials to the pro-slavery Confederacy with the same intensity that memorials to icons like Martin Luther King , Jr. received .
The comment came as the state 's House Judiciary Committee was debating a bill , proposed by Republican state Rep. Spencer Roach , would impose penalties for damage to memorials .
Hill claimed that several citizens came to him to voice their opposition to removing a statue to the Confederacy in Pensacola , Florida .
Hill characterized the memorial as `` a way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and said , `` I believe [ the memorial ] should be honored just as much as our Vietnam memorial , as our Gen. Chappie James bust , as our Martin Luther King bust .
He was then interrupted by state Rep. Ramon Alexander , a Democrat , who said Hill 's comparison was offensive to him .
`` I 'm offended .
I 'm so offended .
I know I 'm out of order , but I 'm so offended right now , '' Alexander said .
Hill has previously spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2018 , he proposed legislation that would prevent communities in Florida from removing the structures .
He told a local paper at the time that tearing down the memorials would `` prevent someone from learning the history of why it was there in the first place . ''
In a campaign ad released in 2018 , Hill stood next to a Confederate monument and touted his work `` protecting our historical monuments . ''
Support for Confederate monuments has not been unanimous among Republican leadership in the city .
In 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called for the monument 's removal .
`` The white supremacists , the KKK , and the neo-Nazis , those are unacceptable in our state , country , and community .
One of the things that I 'm proud of is we 've done a great job making Pensacola a diverse community , and symbols of hate are not accepted anywhere , '' he told the Pensacola News Journal in August of that year .
But the city 's current mayor , Republican Grover Robinson , opposes the removal of Confederate monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we make our community better by taking things down , but I do n't think we need somebody to tell us we ca n't , '' he told a local paper .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Monday, Republican state Rep. Mike Hill from Florida called for protecting and honoring memorials to the pro-slavery Confederacy with the same intensity that memorials to icons like Martin Luther King, Jr. received.
The comment came as the state’s House Judiciary Committee was debating a bill, proposed by Republican state Rep. Spencer Roach, would impose penalties for damage to memorials.
Hill claimed that several citizens came to him to voice their opposition to removing a statue to the Confederacy in Pensacola, Florida.
Hill characterized the memorial as “a way of closing the wound of that painful war, and said, “I believe [the memorial] should be honored just as much as our Vietnam memorial, as our Gen. Chappie James bust, as our Martin Luther King bust.
He was then interrupted by state Rep. Ramon Alexander, a Democrat, who said Hill’s comparison was offensive to him.
“I’m offended. I’m so offended. I know I’m out of order, but I’m so offended right now,” Alexander said.
Hill has previously spoken out in defense of Confederate memorials. In 2018, he proposed legislation that would prevent communities in Florida from removing the structures.
He told a local paper at the time that tearing down the memorials would “prevent someone from learning the history of why it was there in the first place.”
In a campaign ad released in 2018, Hill stood next to a Confederate monument and touted his work “protecting our historical monuments.”
Support for Confederate monuments has not been unanimous among Republican leadership in the city.
In 2017, Pensacola’s then-mayor, Republican Ashton Hayward, called for the monument’s removal.
“The white supremacists, the KKK, and the neo-Nazis, those are unacceptable in our state, country, and community. One of the things that I’m proud of is we’ve done a great job making Pensacola a diverse community, and symbols of hate are not accepted anywhere,” he told the Pensacola News Journal in August of that year.
But the city’s current mayor, Republican Grover Robinson, opposes the removal of Confederate monuments. “Personally, I don’t think we make our community better by taking things down, but I don’t think we need somebody to tell us we can’t,” he told a local paper.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Trump attacks Roger Stone jury for 19 minutes straight at event for prisoners

Donald Trump used the first 19 minutes of his remarks Thursday at a ceremony for Hope for Prisoners , a program for former inmates , to fume about the jury in the Roger Stone criminal trial and other related complaints .
Stone , a longtime Trump ally and former campaign adviser , was convicted and sentenced today to 40 months in prison for witness tampering and lying to Congress .
Trump and his allies have already been signaling that Trump plans to pardon Stone .
Trump opened his remarks with an attack on the forewoman in the Stone case and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next 19 minutes .
Admitting `` I do n't know if this is a fact , '' Trump said the forewoman `` was an anti-Trump person totally , '' said she had a `` horrible social media account , '' and that she is `` a strong woman , a very dominant person so she can get people to do whatever she wants . ''
Trump claimed these allegations could constitute a `` defrauding of the court '' and `` undermine our fair system of justice , '' necessitating a pardon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury 's verdict and the sentence from the judge came just a day after Trump tweeted an attack on Democrats as being the party of `` high crime . ''
Trump also hailed himself as America 's `` chief law enforcement officer '' after he pardoned several high-profile figures , including corrupt former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich , a Democrat .
Trump also used the remarks to attack former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , inaccurately accusing her of having `` leaked more classified documents than any human being in the history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It has been four years since the 2016 election , where Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes than Trump .
But he has repeatedly attacked her and invoked her name at completely unrelated events .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump used the first 19 minutes of his remarks Thursday at a ceremony for Hope for Prisoners, a program for former inmates, to fume about the jury in the Roger Stone criminal trial and other related complaints.
Stone, a longtime Trump ally and former campaign adviser, was convicted and sentenced today to 40 months in prison for witness tampering and lying to Congress.
Trump and his allies have already been signaling that Trump plans to pardon Stone.
Trump opened his remarks with an attack on the forewoman in the Stone case and continued to go on about the case for the next 19 minutes.
Admitting “I don’t know if this is a fact,” Trump said the forewoman “was an anti-Trump person totally,” said she had a “horrible social media account,” and that she is “a strong woman, a very dominant person so she can get people to do whatever she wants.”
Trump claimed these allegations could constitute a “defrauding of the court” and “undermine our fair system of justice,” necessitating a pardon for Stone.
The attack on the jury’s verdict and the sentence from the judge came just a day after Trump tweeted an attack on Democrats as being the party of “high crime.”
Trump also hailed himself as America’s “chief law enforcement officer” after he pardoned several high-profile figures, including corrupt former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat.
Trump also used the remarks to attack former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, inaccurately accusing her of having “leaked more classified documents than any human being in the history of the United States of America.”
It has been four years since the 2016 election, where Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes than Trump. But he has repeatedly attacked her and invoked her name at completely unrelated events.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--GOP candidate brags about endorsements from hate groups

North Carolina Lt .
Governor Dan Forest ( R ) has touted endorsements from two anti-LGBTQ groups in recent days .
One of those organizations has been designated a `` hate group '' by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Forest is currently running for governor to replace incumbent Roy Cooper ( D ) in November .
`` Honored to have the wholehearted endorsement of North Carolina Values Coalition , '' he wrote on Facebook Tuesday .
`` Their grassroots work to advocate for life , strong families , and religious liberty is known across the state . ''
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` grateful for the endorsement of FRC Action , '' adding , `` We appreciate their work defending faith , family , and freedom . ''
FRC Action is the political arm of Tony Perkins ' Family Research Council .
The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Family Research Council a hate group , citing its frequent `` claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science . ''
Perkins himself falsely suggested in 2010 that there was `` overlap '' between pedophilia and homosexuality .
`` While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a completely distinct orientation from homosexuality , evidence shows a disproportionate overlap between the two , '' he claimed .
`` … It is a homosexual problem . ''
The North Carolina Values Coalition , created and run by executive director Tami Fitzgerald , has been at the forefront of nearly every anti-LGBTQ effort in the state .
Fitzgerald opposed a 2009 anti-bullying bill on the grounds that it included `` sexual orientation , '' which she claimed encompassed pedophilia and bestiality .
Her group also led the charge for HB2 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-discrimination ordinances and banning transgender people from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity .
The Coalition called HB2 a `` compassionate , reasonable law '' that ensured `` little girl [ s ] '' would not `` lose [ their ] privacy and dignity to a boy in the locker room . ''
Forest backed HB2 in 2016 , claiming falsely , `` Transgenderism is a feeling ... it could be a feeling just for the day . ''
He continued to defend the law even after it cost the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic boycotts .
When the NCAA announced it would move its championships out of the state over the law , Forest complained that the `` action sends a message to every female athlete and female fan attending their events that their privacy and security in a bathroom , shower or locker room is n't worth the price of a ticket to a ballgame . ''
In 2017 , after then-Gov .
Pat McCrory ( R ) lost reelection in 2016 — in large part due to the backlash over HB2 — the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this and wrongly claimed Gov .
Roy Cooper ( D ) wanted to create `` a state sanctioned 'Look But Do n't Touch ' policy in our bathrooms . ''
Forest did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether his anti-LGBTQ views have changed .
Forest will face off with his Republican primary opponent for the GOP nomination on March 3 , and is widely considered to be the favorite .
The winner will likely take on Cooper in November in what could be a close race .
Forest has made national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that `` tens of thousands '' of kids in the state had been attacked by undocumented immigrants and for a controversial sermon in which he claimed diversity was destroying America .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest (R) has touted endorsements from two anti-LGBTQ groups in recent days.
One of those organizations has been designated a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Forest is currently running for governor to replace incumbent Roy Cooper (D) in November.
“Honored to have the wholehearted endorsement of North Carolina Values Coalition,” he wrote on Facebook Tuesday. “Their grassroots work to advocate for life, strong families, and religious liberty is known across the state.”
One week earlier, Forest wrote that he was “grateful for the endorsement of FRC Action,” adding, “We appreciate their work defending faith, family, and freedom.”
[media-credit name=”Dan Forest for Governor Facebook page” align=”none” width=”300″] [/media-credit]
FRC Action is the political arm of Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Family Research Council a hate group, citing its frequent “claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science.”
Perkins himself falsely suggested in 2010 that there was “overlap” between pedophilia and homosexuality. “While activists like to claim that pedophilia is a completely distinct orientation from homosexuality, evidence shows a disproportionate overlap between the two,” he claimed. “… It is a homosexual problem.”
The North Carolina Values Coalition, created and run by executive director Tami Fitzgerald, has been at the forefront of nearly every anti-LGBTQ effort in the state.
Fitzgerald opposed a 2009 anti-bullying bill on the grounds that it included “sexual orientation,” which she claimed encompassed pedophilia and bestiality. Her group also led the charge for HB2, the state’s infamous 2016 law barring local non-discrimination ordinances and banning transgender people from using public restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The Coalition called HB2 a “compassionate, reasonable law” that ensured “little girl[s]” would not “lose [their] privacy and dignity to a boy in the locker room.”
Forest backed HB2 in 2016, claiming falsely, “Transgenderism is a feeling … it could be a feeling just for the day.”
He continued to defend the law even after it cost the state tens of millions of dollars from economic boycotts. When the NCAA announced it would move its championships out of the state over the law, Forest complained that the “action sends a message to every female athlete and female fan attending their events that their privacy and security in a bathroom, shower or locker room isn’t worth the price of a ticket to a ballgame.”
In 2017, after then-Gov. Pat McCrory (R) lost reelection in 2016 — in large part due to the backlash over HB2 — the law was partially repealed. Forest fiercely opposed this and wrongly claimed Gov. Roy Cooper (D) wanted to create “a state sanctioned ‘Look But Don’t Touch’ policy in our bathrooms.”
Forest did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether his anti-LGBTQ views have changed.
Forest will face off with his Republican primary opponent for the GOP nomination on March 3, and is widely considered to be the favorite. The winner will likely take on Cooper in November in what could be a close race.
Forest has made national news in recent months for several debunked claims that “tens of thousands” of kids in the state had been attacked by undocumented immigrants and for a controversial sermon in which he claimed diversity was destroying America.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Another Trump supporter arrested over threats to kill Trump's rivals

Yet another Donald Trump supporter was arrested for allegedly making death threats against a list of Democrats Trump repeatedly attacks .
Salvatore Lippa II , 57 , was arrested on Thursday and charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. official .
Lippa had left death threats for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , and California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff — who all played prominent roles in the impeachment effort against Trump .
According to the criminal complaint , Lippa left profanity-laced messages for the Democratic lawmakers .
And in an interview with federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enraged over the lawmakers ' support for impeaching Trump and removing him from office .
In the death threat against Schiff , Lippa parroted the pejorative nicknames Trump uses against the California Democrat .
`` Schiff , Shifty Schiff , you 're the biggest fucking scumbag motherfucker who ever lived , '' Lippa allegedly says in the message , according to the court filing .
`` I dare you to come , I dare you to come to New York , because I will put a bullet in your fucking forehead .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got that ?
And you can look up my phone number .
And you think I 'm fucking joking ?
I 'll come to Washington and kill you , you motherfucker . ''
The threats against Pelosi and Schumer were similarly vulgar .
`` Hey Schumer , you and Nancy Pelosi are to fucking biggest scumbags who ever lived , '' Lippa says , according to the complaint.
`` And let me tell you something , somebody wants to assassinate you .
I 'm going to be the driver .
And he 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I fucking promise you , you fucking totally little fucking Democrats scumbag fucks . ''
Lippa is the latest Trump supporter to be arrested for either making threats against Trump 's political foes or attempting to harm Trump 's perceived enemies .
Patrick W. Carlineo — another New York man and self-proclaimed Trump supporter — was arrested in April 2019 for making threats against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar .
In August 2019 , a Trump fan in Washington State was arrested for threatening to kill Hispanic people .
And of course , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who sent more than a dozen pipe bombs through the mail to lawmakers and media outlets that Trump regularly attacks .
Trump , for his part , has been criticized for the ratcheted up rhetoric he uses to attack his political rivals .
However , Trump has refused to apologize or accept blame for his supporters ' actions .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Yet another Donald Trump supporter was arrested for allegedly making death threats against a list of Democrats Trump repeatedly attacks.
Salvatore Lippa II, 57, was arrested on Thursday and charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. official. Lippa had left death threats for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff — who all played prominent roles in the impeachment effort against Trump.
According to the criminal complaint, Lippa left profanity-laced messages for the Democratic lawmakers. And in an interview with federal investigators, Lippa admitted that he was enraged over the lawmakers’ support for impeaching Trump and removing him from office.
In the death threat against Schiff, Lippa parroted the pejorative nicknames Trump uses against the California Democrat.
“Schiff, Shifty Schiff, you’re the biggest fucking scumbag motherfucker who ever lived,” Lippa allegedly says in the message, according to the court filing.
“I dare you to come, I dare you to come to New York, because I will put a bullet in your fucking forehead. You fucking scumbag piece of shit. You got that? And you can look up my phone number. And you think I’m fucking joking? I’ll come to Washington and kill you, you motherfucker.”
The threats against Pelosi and Schumer were similarly vulgar.
“Hey Schumer, you and Nancy Pelosi are to fucking biggest scumbags who ever lived,” Lippa says, according to the complaint. ”
And let me tell you something, somebody wants to assassinate you. I’m going to be the driver. And he’ll shoot you from 200 yards away. I fucking promise you, you fucking totally little fucking Democrats scumbag fucks.”
Lippa is the latest Trump supporter to be arrested for either making threats against Trump’s political foes or attempting to harm Trump’s perceived enemies.
Patrick W. Carlineo — another New York man and self-proclaimed Trump supporter — was arrested in April 2019 for making threats against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar.
In August 2019, a Trump fan in Washington State was arrested for threatening to kill Hispanic people.
And of course, the most high-profile example is Cesar Sayoc, who sent more than a dozen pipe bombs through the mail to lawmakers and media outlets that Trump regularly attacks.
Trump, for his part, has been criticized for the ratcheted up rhetoric he uses to attack his political rivals. However, Trump has refused to apologize or accept blame for his supporters’ actions.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Latest debate broke all-time record for Democrats

The Democratic debate on Wednesday night broke the record for the most-watched primary debate for the party in history , NBC News reports .
The debate , which was the ninth debate for Democrats of the 2020 primary cycle , averaged 19.7 million total viewers on MSNBC and NBC .
Additionally , NBC said the debate had 13.5 million viewers via live-stream and nearly 22 million video views across the company 's various online platforms , the highest digital performance for the network since the 2016 election .
Included on the debate stage were Sens .
Bernie Sanders , Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg ; former Vice President Joe Biden ; and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg .
The massive ratings came despite an attempt by Donald Trump to counterprogram the event .
Trump held a rally in Phoenix , Arizona , where he attacked the Democrats even as millions watched them .
`` The barnstorming underscores Trump 's eagerness to challenge every major Democratic primary event , '' Politico reported , noting that the rally began `` about 30 minutes '' after the Democrats had started .
While portions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aired on the conservative Fox News during the `` Hannity '' show , the network did not air his rally in its entirety .
The Republican National Committee 's official YouTube channel streamed the Trump rally , attracting roughly 4,500 views so far .
Over the 2020 cycle , multiple Democratic debates have attracted millions of viewers at a record-setting pace , outdrawing programming that has featured Trump .
In June , the first 2020 Democratic debate attracted over 15 million viewers , outperforming a prime-time special earlier that month featuring Trump that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months later , in September , 14 million watched the Democratic contest , while cable news decided not to pick up a Trump speech that same night , during which he once again complained about Hillary Clinton .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Democratic debate on Wednesday night broke the record for the most-watched primary debate for the party in history, NBC News reports.
The debate, which was the ninth debate for Democrats of the 2020 primary cycle, averaged 19.7 million total viewers on MSNBC and NBC. Additionally, NBC said the debate had 13.5 million viewers via live-stream and nearly 22 million video views across the company’s various online platforms, the highest digital performance for the network since the 2016 election.
Included on the debate stage were Sens. Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, and Elizabeth Warren; former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former Vice President Joe Biden; and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The massive ratings came despite an attempt by Donald Trump to counterprogram the event. Trump held a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, where he attacked the Democrats even as millions watched them.
“The barnstorming underscores Trump’s eagerness to challenge every major Democratic primary event,” Politico reported, noting that the rally began “about 30 minutes” after the Democrats had started.
While portions of Trump’s Wednesday night rally speech were aired on the conservative Fox News during the “Hannity” show, the network did not air his rally in its entirety.
The Republican National Committee’s official YouTube channel streamed the Trump rally, attracting roughly 4,500 views so far.
Over the 2020 cycle, multiple Democratic debates have attracted millions of viewers at a record-setting pace, outdrawing programming that has featured Trump.
In June, the first 2020 Democratic debate attracted over 15 million viewers, outperforming a prime-time special earlier that month featuring Trump that drew in 3.9 million viewers.
A few months later, in September, 14 million watched the Democratic contest, while cable news decided not to pick up a Trump speech that same night, during which he once again complained about Hillary Clinton.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--McSally called it 'wrong' to always vote with your party. Now she's doing just that.

In less than six years , Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) has gone from criticizing members of Congress who regularly vote with their party leadership to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's most loyal acolyte .
In her time as a senator , McSally has voted the same way as McConnell 98 % of the time , according to ProPublica .
Out of 476 votes she has cast , McSally only disagreed with McConnell 11 times , or just 2 % of all votes .
By comparison , staunch conservatives such as Sens .
Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat Toomey ( R-PA ) have voted with McConnell 90 % , 97 % , and 91 % of the time .
In 2019 , McSally backed Donald Trump 's plan to take $ 30 million away from members of the military at Arizona 's Fort Huachuca in order to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border .
McSally voted the same way as McConnell three times on this issue .
When Trump nominated judges with records of voting against women 's interests , McSally voted to approve them , as did McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , McSally followed McConnell 's lead , voting twice to acquit Trump of the charges .
By contrast , in 2014 , McSally , then a House candidate , criticized then-Rep. Ron Barber , a Democrat , for voting with then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 80 % of the time .
`` I do n't think it 's bipartisan when you say you voted against your party only 20 % of the time , '' McSally said during an Arizona Public Media debate with Barber .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in our country , that 's what 's wrong with Washington , D.C. '' During that debate , McSally claimed to have shown `` independent leadership '' in the past and insisted she was `` willing to make tough decision and do what 's right regardless of the cost . ''
At the time of the 2014 debate , McSally had never held public office .
McSally ended up winning the 2014 race and served in the House of Representatives for two terms .
After losing her 2018 Senate bid , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late Sen. John McCain 's term by Arizona 's Republican governor .
McSally 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the contrast between her past statements and current voting record .
McSally is facing a tough election this year and has presented herself as a unifier on her campaign website , prominently displaying her own quote , `` There 's always more that unites us than divides us . ''
Democrats in the state have slammed that self-portrayal as dishonest .
`` Who better than 2014 Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trust 2020 Martha McSally [ ? ]
'' Brad Bainum , Arizona Democratic Party spokesperson , said in a statement .
`` By her own admission , McSally is what 's wrong with Washington . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In less than six years, Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) has gone from criticizing members of Congress who regularly vote with their party leadership to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s most loyal acolyte.
In her time as a senator, McSally has voted the same way as McConnell 98% of the time, according to ProPublica. Out of 476 votes she has cast, McSally only disagreed with McConnell 11 times, or just 2% of all votes.
By comparison, staunch conservatives such as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) have voted with McConnell 90%, 97%, and 91% of the time.
In 2019, McSally backed Donald Trump’s plan to take $30 million away from members of the military at Arizona’s Fort Huachuca in order to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. McSally voted the same way as McConnell three times on this issue.
When Trump nominated judges with records of voting against women’s interests, McSally voted to approve them, as did McConnell.
After the House impeached Trump for both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, McSally followed McConnell’s lead, voting twice to acquit Trump of the charges.
By contrast, in 2014, McSally, then a House candidate, criticized then-Rep. Ron Barber, a Democrat, for voting with then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi 80% of the time.
“I don’t think it’s bipartisan when you say you voted against your party only 20% of the time,” McSally said during an Arizona Public Media debate with Barber.
“If that’s what’s going on in our country, that’s what’s wrong with Washington, D.C.”
During that debate, McSally claimed to have shown “independent leadership” in the past and insisted she was “willing to make tough decision and do what’s right regardless of the cost.”
At the time of the 2014 debate, McSally had never held public office.
McSally ended up winning the 2014 race and served in the House of Representatives for two terms. After losing her 2018 Senate bid, she was appointed to fill the remainder of the late Sen. John McCain’s term by Arizona’s Republican governor.
McSally’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the contrast between her past statements and current voting record.
McSally is facing a tough election this year and has presented herself as a unifier on her campaign website, prominently displaying her own quote, “There’s always more that unites us than divides us.”
Democrats in the state have slammed that self-portrayal as dishonest.
“Who better than 2014 Martha McSally to give Arizonans another reason not to trust 2020 Martha McSally[?]” Brad Bainum, Arizona Democratic Party spokesperson, said in a statement.
“By her own admission, McSally is what’s wrong with Washington.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Bloomberg releases edited video following debate

Following a night of attacks from his fellow Democratic presidential candidates , former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted to regain ground with the release of a deceptive video cut from footage of Wednesday night 's debate .
At the debate , Bloomberg said : `` I 'm the only one here , I think , that has ever started a business .
Is that fair ? ''
In reality , Bloomberg waited approximately 2 seconds for a response before moving on , but the edited video from the Bloomberg campaign inserted a 21-second pause and spliced in images @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking down , complete with the sounds of crickets .
CNN 's Daniel Dale , who usually fact-checks Donald Trump , called out Bloomberg for the misleading video , writing on social media that as the debate was aired , the other candidates were `` shown smiling or being impassive , not sniffling/shuffling papers/raising and lowering their hands . ''
After the edited video racked up more than a half-million views , a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told Politico the video was `` tongue in cheek , '' adding , `` There were obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Media reports following the debate almost universally agreed that Bloomberg had a rough debate night .
NPR described his performance as `` spotty '' and noted he `` was off balance now and again . ''
NBC News compared Bloomberg to a pinata for all the attacks he faced and said he `` seemed unprepared for an entirely predictable series of attacks . ''
Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) attacked Bloomberg on several occasions for his past comments and New York City policies .
`` I 'd like to talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians , '' Warren said in the first few moments of the night .
`` And no , I 'm not talking about Donald Trump .
I 'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg . ''
Later , Warren criticized both Bloomberg 's controversial and racist stop and frisk policy and Bloomberg 's apology about the policy .
`` When the mayor says that he apologized , listen very closely to the apology , '' Warren said .
`` The language he used about stop and frisk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , this is n't about how it turned out .
This is about what it was designed to do to begin with .
It targeted communities of color .
It targeted black and brown men from the beginning . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Following a night of attacks from his fellow Democratic presidential candidates, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted to regain ground with the release of a deceptive video cut from footage of Wednesday night’s debate.
At the debate, Bloomberg said: “I’m the only one here, I think, that has ever started a business. Is that fair?”
In reality, Bloomberg waited approximately 2 seconds for a response before moving on, but the edited video from the Bloomberg campaign inserted a 21-second pause and spliced in images of the other candidates shuffling papers and looking down, complete with the sounds of crickets.
CNN’s Daniel Dale, who usually fact-checks Donald Trump, called out Bloomberg for the misleading video, writing on social media that as the debate was aired, the other candidates were “shown smiling or being impassive, not sniffling/shuffling papers/raising and lowering their hands.”
After the edited video racked up more than a half-million views, a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson told Politico the video was “tongue in cheek,” adding, “There were obviously no crickets on the debate stage.”
DEBATE VIDEO:
EDITED VIDEO:
Media reports following the debate almost universally agreed that Bloomberg had a rough debate night.
NPR described his performance as “spotty” and noted he “was off balance now and again.”
NBC News compared Bloomberg to a pinata for all the attacks he faced and said he “seemed unprepared for an entirely predictable series of attacks.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) attacked Bloomberg on several occasions for his past comments and New York City policies.
“I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians,” Warren said in the first few moments of the night. “And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump. I’m talking about Mayor Bloomberg.”
Later, Warren criticized both Bloomberg’s controversial and racist stop and frisk policy and Bloomberg’s apology about the policy.
“When the mayor says that he apologized, listen very closely to the apology,” Warren said. “The language he used about stop and frisk is about how it turned out. No, this isn’t about how it turned out. This is about what it was designed to do to begin with. It targeted communities of color. It targeted black and brown men from the beginning.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Matt Gaetz: Trump should pardon Roger Stone because British kings could do it

Roger Stone was convicted and sentenced to 40 months in prison this week for witness tampering and lying to Congress .
From the Feb. 20 edition of `` The View '' : SUNNY HOSTIN : For crimes of obstructing justice , witness tampering , lying to Congress , do you think Trump should pardon Roger Stone ?
REP. MATT GAETZ : I do , and I think that it requires a review of the pardon power – MEGHAN McCAIN : Come on .
Come on .
He 's the swampiest swamp creature .
GAETZ : Barack Obama pardoned over 1,700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bill Clinton pardoned 16 people who were members of a Puerto Rican terrorist organization that planned murders at the Bronx Tavern .
JOY BEHAR : And he got plenty of flack for that , Bill Clinton .
HOSTIN : Perhaps that was n't the right thing to do ?
GAETZ : When we designed our Constitution , there were vestiges of the British monarchy that Americans still had some reverence for and one was the notion that the executive , that the sovereign , could extend unlimited grace for any reason , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : So Trump is the king ?
GAETZ : That was an element of the British system that I was saying it was borrowed from .

From the Feb. 20 edition of “The View”:
SUNNY HOSTIN: For crimes of obstructing justice, witness tampering, lying to Congress, do you think Trump should pardon Roger Stone?
REP. MATT GAETZ: I do, and I think that it requires a review of the pardon power –
MEGHAN McCAIN: Come on. Come on. He’s the swampiest swamp creature.
GAETZ: Barack Obama pardoned over 1,700 people. Bill Clinton pardoned 450 people. Bill Clinton pardoned 16 people who were members of a Puerto Rican terrorist organization that planned murders at the Bronx Tavern.
JOY BEHAR: And he got plenty of flack for that, Bill Clinton.
HOSTIN: Perhaps that wasn’t the right thing to do?
GAETZ: When we designed our Constitution, there were vestiges of the British monarchy that Americans still had some reverence for and one was the notion that the executive, that the sovereign, could extend unlimited grace for any reason, or no reason at all.
BEHAR: So Trump is the king?
GAETZ: That was an element of the British system that I was saying it was borrowed from.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Trump advisers admit economy isn't growing nearly as much as he promised

Donald Trump 's top economic advisers on Thursday poured cold water on his claims of the `` greatest economy in the history of our country . ''
Although he promised previously that his 2017 tax legislation would bring annual economic growth of `` 4 , 5 , and maybe even 6 % ultimately , '' Trump 's Council of Economic Advisers — a handpicked corps of economic experts — now say the economy is on track for just 2.4 % growth in 2020 .
The council released it `` Economic Report of the President '' on Thursday .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in 2020 from its projected 2019 pace of 2.5 percent , and to remain at or above 3.0 percent in 2022 , '' it noted that would only happen with `` new measures '' to roll back regulations , immigration reform , and new trade deals .
Without those , the advisers admitted , growth will likely drop to just 2.4 % for 2020 and 2.3 % for 2021 .
With the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passing progressive legislation and a Republican Senate blocking almost all of it , the odds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes this year are slim .
The Council 's numbers fall well short of both Trump 's promises as a candidate and his bullish projections after the GOP-lead Congress passed his 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act .
Trump 's 2016 campaign website said he would `` [ b ] oost growth to 3.5 percent per year on average , with the potential to reach a 4 percent growth rate . ''
He told Fox News in March 2016 , that economic growth of `` 4 % or 5 % '' was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the final general election debate , Trump 's promises got even grander .
`` [ W ] e 're bringing GDP from , really , 1 percent , which is what it is now , '' he said , `` up to 4 percent .
And I actually think we can go higher than 4 percent .
I think you can go to 5 percent or 6 percent . ''
As he signed his tax bill in December 2017 , cutting taxes for the very rich and large corporations , Trump told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would rise `` 3 % '' to `` 4 , 5 , and maybe even 6 % ultimately . ''
Trump 's economy has not come close to living up to those promises .
The Bureau of Economic Analysis announced last month that in the third and fourth quarters of 2019 , the economy slowed to just 2.1 % growth .
The nation 's gross domestic product grew 2.3 % for the year , compared to 2.9 % in 2018 .
In September 2018 , Trump invented a phony quote from President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once said he would never achieve 4.2 % growth and boasting that he would do even better .
`` 'President Trump would need a magic wand to get to 4 % GDP , ' stated President Obama .
I guess I have a magic wand , '' Trump tweeted .
`` 4.2 % , and we will do MUCH better than this !
We have just begun . ''
In reality , Obama 's 2016 comment had been about manufacturing jobs , not GDP growth .
During his two terms in office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.2 % on three separate occasions .
In no year of Trump 's administration has the economy hit even 3 % annual growth .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s top economic advisers on Thursday poured cold water on his claims of the “greatest economy in the history of our country.”
Although he promised previously that his 2017 tax legislation would bring annual economic growth of “4, 5, and maybe even 6% ultimately,” Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers — a handpicked corps of economic experts — now say the economy is on track for just 2.4% growth in 2020.
The council released it “Economic Report of the President” on Thursday. While the report optimistically predicted “economic growth to rise in 2020 from its projected 2019 pace of 2.5 percent, and to remain at or above 3.0 percent in 2022,” it noted that would only happen with “new measures” to roll back regulations, immigration reform, and new trade deals.
Without those, the advisers admitted, growth will likely drop to just 2.4% for 2020 and 2.3% for 2021.
With the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passing progressive legislation and a Republican Senate blocking almost all of it, the odds of Trump getting through his desired major policy changes this year are slim.
The Council’s numbers fall well short of both Trump’s promises as a candidate and his bullish projections after the GOP-lead Congress passed his 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act.
Trump’s 2016 campaign website said he would “[b]oost growth to 3.5 percent per year on average, with the potential to reach a 4 percent growth rate.”
He told Fox News in March 2016, that economic growth of “4% or 5%” was “absolutely doable.”
That October, in the final general election debate, Trump’s promises got even grander. “[W]e’re bringing GDP from, really, 1 percent, which is what it is now,” he said, “up to 4 percent. And I actually think we can go higher than 4 percent. I think you can go to 5 percent or 6 percent.”
As he signed his tax bill in December 2017, cutting taxes for the very rich and large corporations, Trump told the nation the changes would fuel growth that would rise “3%” to “4, 5, and maybe even 6% ultimately.”
Trump’s economy has not come close to living up to those promises. The Bureau of Economic Analysis announced last month that in the third and fourth quarters of 2019, the economy slowed to just 2.1% growth. The nation’s gross domestic product grew 2.3% for the year, compared to 2.9% in 2018.
In September 2018, Trump invented a phony quote from President Barack Obama, falsely claiming his predecessor once said he would never achieve 4.2% growth and boasting that he would do even better.
“‘President Trump would need a magic wand to get to 4% GDP,’ stated President Obama. I guess I have a magic wand,” Trump tweeted. “4.2%, and we will do MUCH better than this! We have just begun.”
In reality, Obama’s 2016 comment had been about manufacturing jobs, not GDP growth. During his two terms in office, Obama achieved quarterly growth of at least 4.2% on three separate occasions.
In no year of Trump’s administration has the economy hit even 3% annual growth.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Trump ally Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison

Roger Stone , the self-proclaimed `` dirty trickster '' and longtime Donald Trump confidant , was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Thursday for his interference in the Russia investigation .
Stone was also given 24 months supervised release and a slapped with a $ 20,000 fine .
Amy Berman Jackson read a lengthy statement before handing her sentence down , saying that Stone was not the target of a political enemy nor was the prosecution against him unfair .
`` Roger Stone injected himself , characteristically , in one of the most significant issues of the day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face the consequences of those actions .
She continued , `` He is not being sentenced for exercising his first amendment rights .
...
He was not prosecuted , as some have complained , for standing up for the president , he was prosecuted for covering up for the president . ''
`` At his core , Mr. Stone is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention , '' she added .
`` Nothing about this case was a joke .
It was n't funny . ''
Stone was convicted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of justice , witness tampering , and lying to Congress as part of the investigation into Russia 's efforts to meddle in the 2016 election .
On Thursday , Jackson read a number of his threatening messages to one witness aloud in court , noting that he had threatened to kill the man 's dog and had told him , `` my lawyers are dying Rip you to shreds '' and `` 'prepare to die . ''
Prosecutors had previously recommended Stone face seven to nine years in prison for his crimes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Attorney General William Barr intervened to say that the government actually thought Stone deserved leniency — contradicting the first sentencing memo .
Barr 's intervention led the four lead prosecutors on the case to resign in protest .
Bizarrely , the new prosecutor on the case — John Crabb — went to Stone 's sentencing hearing on Thursday and argued for the same sentence the four original prosecutors had recommended .
Crabb , who signed off on the new sentencing guidelines , would n't say who wrote the new memo .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone will ever serve a day in jail .
Trump is reportedly mulling pardoning Stone and has tweeted that he thinks a long sentence for Stone is `` unfair . ''
`` 'They say Roger Stone lied to Congress . '
@ CNN OH , I see , but so did Comey ( and he also leaked classified information , for which almost everyone , other than Crooked Hillary Clinton , goes to jail for a long time ) , and so did Andy McCabe , who also lied to the FBI !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing .
There is no evidence former FBI Director James Comey lied to Congress .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Roger Stone, the self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” and longtime Donald Trump confidant, was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Thursday for his interference in the Russia investigation.
Stone was also given 24 months supervised release and a slapped with a $20,000 fine.
Amy Berman Jackson read a lengthy statement before handing her sentence down, saying that Stone was not the target of a political enemy nor was the prosecution against him unfair.
“Roger Stone injected himself, characteristically, in one of the most significant issues of the day,” she said, and will now face the consequences of those actions.
She continued, “He is not being sentenced for exercising his first amendment rights. … He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president, he was prosecuted for covering up for the president.”
“At his core, Mr. Stone is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention,” she added. “Nothing about this case was a joke. It wasn’t funny.”
Stone was convicted in November 2019 on seven counts of obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress as part of the investigation into Russia’s efforts to meddle in the 2016 election. On Thursday, Jackson read a number of his threatening messages to one witness aloud in court, noting that he had threatened to kill the man’s dog and had told him, “my lawyers are dying Rip you to shreds” and “‘prepare to die.”
Prosecutors had previously recommended Stone face seven to nine years in prison for his crimes.
However, after prosecutors recommended that sentence, Attorney General William Barr intervened to say that the government actually thought Stone deserved leniency — contradicting the first sentencing memo.
Barr’s intervention led the four lead prosecutors on the case to resign in protest.
Bizarrely, the new prosecutor on the case — John Crabb — went to Stone’s sentencing hearing on Thursday and argued for the same sentence the four original prosecutors had recommended. Crabb, who signed off on the new sentencing guidelines, wouldn’t say who wrote the new memo.
Despite his sentence, it’s unclear if Stone will ever serve a day in jail.
Trump is reportedly mulling pardoning Stone and has tweeted that he thinks a long sentence for Stone is “unfair.”
“‘They say Roger Stone lied to Congress.’ @CNN OH, I see, but so did Comey (and he also leaked classified information, for which almost everyone, other than Crooked Hillary Clinton, goes to jail for a long time), and so did Andy McCabe, who also lied to the FBI! FAIRNESS?” Trump tweeted during the hearing.
There is no evidence former FBI Director James Comey lied to Congress.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-20--Trump reportedly set to pardon former adviser and convicted felon Roger Stone

A federal judge is currently weighing whether Roger Stone should get prison time for the seven felony counts of witness tampering , obstruction of justice , and lying to Congress he was charged with .
However , even if Stone gets the maximum nine-year sentence prosecutors in the case asked for , he 's unlikely to serve a day in prison .
Donald Trump is almost assured to pardon his longtime friend and political ally , Politico reports .
A Stone pardon would be the latest move by Trump to help his friends and allies who have been convicted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump pardoned or granted clemency to 11 criminals — all of whom either had personal ties to Trump or were pushed by personalities on Fox News , Trump 's favorite television network .
And at the same time Trump is letting convicted crooks like former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich free , he 's purging his administration of people battling corruption .
In one example , Trump forced out Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council after Vindman complied with a congressional subpoena in the impeachment inquiry .
Trump subsequently said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job was n't enough and suggested Vindman be punished for telling the truth under oath , as he was legally obligated to do .
Trump also purged a Pentagon official who raised concerns about Trump 's military aid hold to Ukraine .
But it 's not just people who opposed Trump 's Ukraine scheme who should be worried about their jobs — Politico reports that Trump loyalists are urging Trump to purge any Department of Justice officials who were part of special counsel Robert Mueller 's probe .
`` This is a straightforward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiratorial right-wing figure who runs an organization that pushes investigations of Democrats such as Hillary Clinton , told Politico .
`` The president runs the Justice Department and there are a lot of people who don ’ t want the Justice Department to investigate Democrats . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A federal judge is currently weighing whether Roger Stone should get prison time for the seven felony counts of witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and lying to Congress he was charged with.
However, even if Stone gets the maximum nine-year sentence prosecutors in the case asked for, he’s unlikely to serve a day in prison. Donald Trump is almost assured to pardon his longtime friend and political ally, Politico reports.
A Stone pardon would be the latest move by Trump to help his friends and allies who have been convicted on corruption charges.
Earlier this week, Trump pardoned or granted clemency to 11 criminals — all of whom either had personal ties to Trump or were pushed by personalities on Fox News, Trump’s favorite television network.
And at the same time Trump is letting convicted crooks like former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich free, he’s purging his administration of people battling corruption.
In one example, Trump forced out Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council after Vindman complied with a congressional subpoena in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump subsequently said he thought forcing Vindman out of his job wasn’t enough and suggested Vindman be punished for telling the truth under oath, as he was legally obligated to do.
Trump also purged a Pentagon official who raised concerns about Trump’s military aid hold to Ukraine.
But it’s not just people who opposed Trump’s Ukraine scheme who should be worried about their jobs — Politico reports that Trump loyalists are urging Trump to purge any Department of Justice officials who were part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
“This is a straightforward issue,” Tom Fitton, a conspiratorial right-wing figure who runs an organization that pushes investigations of Democrats such as Hillary Clinton, told Politico. “The president runs the Justice Department and there are a lot of people who don’t want the Justice Department to investigate Democrats.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-21--News you missed: North Carolina voters score major victory

This week , both North Carolina and Florida saw victories for voting rights , and the University of Southern California announced a plan to help tackle student debt for low-income students .
Read on to see what else flew under the radar this week .
North Carolina 's Court of Appeals blocked a GOP-backed voter ID law on Tuesday after determining it was written with `` an intention to target African-American voters , '' Reuters reported .
The unanimous ruling means the voter ID law is unlikely to be enforced for the 2020 election , according to Stephen Wolf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elections .
In November , North Carolina will see a competitive Senate race between first-term Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and his likely Democratic opponent , former state Sen. Cal Cunningham , as well as a competitive race for governor , with Democrat Roy Cooper facing reelection .
The state will also be a presidential battleground .
New Mexico will invest $ 300 million in early childhood education New Mexico 's Democratic Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Tuesday to create a $ 320 million fund focused on early childhood education , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Investments for tomorrow will not wait ; children deserve opportunity beginning this instant , '' Lujan Grisham said in a statement about the new law .
`` We are clear about the unequivocal benefits of early childhood education and care , and we are implementing policy that reflects both our convictions and the needs of New Mexicans . ''
The law created the Early Childhood Trust Fund , which will provide funding for the state 's early childhood programs , such as pre-K initiatives .
In future years , the initiative will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources .
The California Legislature passed a resolution on Thursday to formally apologize for the role the state played in the internment of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II , the Associated Press reported .
`` We like to talk a lot about how we lead the nation by example , '' said state Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi , an American of Japanese descent .
`` Unfortunately , in this case , California led the racist anti-Japanese American movement . ''
The federal government formally apologized for the internment camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 in reparations for each victim .
The California resolution does not provide for reparations .
On Wednesday , a federal appeals court struck down a Florida law that forced ex-felons to pay fees in order to regain their right to vote .
The lawsuit focused on a GOP-backed law that required former felons to pay all fines and fees associated with their conviction before being allowed to register to vote .
But the court ruled that the law discriminated against former felons who were unable to afford the fees .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once a state provides an avenue to ending the punishment of disenfranchisement — as the voters of Florida plainly did — it must do so consonant with the principles of equal protection and it may not erect a wealth barrier absent a justification sufficient to overcome heightened scrutiny , '' the three-judge panel wrote .
The state 's Republican governor , Ron DeSantis , plans to appeal the ruling .
More than 3.4 million Kentucky residents are registered to vote , a new record according to state officials .
The state reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats , 43 % are Republicans , and 9 % have a different affiliation .
In a statement , Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams encouraged `` every eligible person who is not registered to vote to do so by April 20 , the last day to register to vote in the May 19 primary . ''
In addition to the presidential election in November , Kentucky voters will decide between sending Majority Leader Mitch McConnell back to the Senate or his likely Democratic opponent Amy McGrath , a former Marine fighter pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not charge low- and middle-income students for tuition , the institution announced Thursday .
According to the New York Times , students from families making less than $ 80,000 per year will have their tuition waived starting in the fall of 2020 .
`` More students who want to come to USC will be able to choose that , '' Carol Folt , the university 's president , told the Times .
Tuition at USC , a private university located in Los Angeles , costs roughly $ 57,000 per year .
Check back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

This week, both North Carolina and Florida saw victories for voting rights, and the University of Southern California announced a plan to help tackle student debt for low-income students.
Read on to see what else flew under the radar this week.
North Carolina’s Court of Appeals blocked a GOP-backed voter ID law on Tuesday after determining it was written with “an intention to target African-American voters,” Reuters reported.
The unanimous ruling means the voter ID law is unlikely to be enforced for the 2020 election, according to Stephen Wolf, a voting rights expert with Daily Kos Elections.
In November, North Carolina will see a competitive Senate race between first-term Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and his likely Democratic opponent, former state Sen. Cal Cunningham, as well as a competitive race for governor, with Democrat Roy Cooper facing reelection. The state will also be a presidential battleground.
New Mexico’s Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation Tuesday to create a $320 million fund focused on early childhood education, the Sante Fe New Mexican reported.
“Investments for tomorrow will not wait; children deserve opportunity beginning this instant,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement about the new law. “We are clear about the unequivocal benefits of early childhood education and care, and we are implementing policy that reflects both our convictions and the needs of New Mexicans.”
The law created the Early Childhood Trust Fund, which will provide funding for the state’s early childhood programs, such as pre-K initiatives. In future years, the initiative will be funded through revenue from oil and gas sources.
The California Legislature passed a resolution on Thursday to formally apologize for the role the state played in the internment of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II, the Associated Press reported.
“We like to talk a lot about how we lead the nation by example,” said state Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, an American of Japanese descent. “Unfortunately, in this case, California led the racist anti-Japanese American movement.”
The federal government formally apologized for the internment camps in the late 1980s and provided $20,000 in reparations for each victim. The California resolution does not provide for reparations.
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court struck down a Florida law that forced ex-felons to pay fees in order to regain their right to vote.
The lawsuit focused on a GOP-backed law that required former felons to pay all fines and fees associated with their conviction before being allowed to register to vote. But the court ruled that the law discriminated against former felons who were unable to afford the fees.
“The long and short of it is that once a state provides an avenue to ending the punishment of disenfranchisement — as the voters of Florida plainly did — it must do so consonant with the principles of equal protection and it may not erect a wealth barrier absent a justification sufficient to overcome heightened scrutiny,” the three-judge panel wrote.
The state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, plans to appeal the ruling.
More than 3.4 million Kentucky residents are registered to vote, a new record according to state officials.
The state reported that 48% of voters are registered as Democrats, 43% are Republicans, and 9% have a different affiliation.
In a statement, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams encouraged “every eligible person who is not registered to vote to do so by April 20, the last day to register to vote in the May 19 primary.”
In addition to the presidential election in November, Kentucky voters will decide between sending Majority Leader Mitch McConnell back to the Senate or his likely Democratic opponent Amy McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot.
The University of Southern California will not charge low- and middle-income students for tuition, the institution announced Thursday.
According to the New York Times, students from families making less than $80,000 per year will have their tuition waived starting in the fall of 2020.
“More students who want to come to USC will be able to choose that,” Carol Folt, the university’s president, told the Times.
Tuition at USC, a private university located in Los Angeles, costs roughly $57,000 per year.
Check back next week for more news you missed.


shareblue--2020-02-21--GOP governor gives up effort to enshrine ban on sanctuary cities

Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey and Republican lawmakers have pulled a contentious proposal to enshrine an existing ban on so-called “ sanctuary cities ” in the state constitution .
The decision announced late Thursday night came on the eve of a now-canceled House hearing on the proposal the Republican governor asked lawmakers to send to voters .
A Senate hearing last week erupted in shouting and resulted in the removal of activists who called the proposal racist .
Republican leaders of the House and Senate and the governor 's spokesman issued similar statements on the decision .
“ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban on sanctuary cities will not receive additional consideration this session — a decision made jointly by legislative leadership and the Governor , ” the statement from GOP leaders issued by House majority spokesman Andrew Wilder said .
“ Sanctuary cities are illegal in Arizona .
It will remain that way , and our members will remain vigilant to keep these bad policies out of Arizona.
” The statement from Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak said the state will also continue to oppose sanctuary policies that shield immigrants caught illegally in the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Arizona in opposition to sanctuary cities , a California-style policy rejected overwhelmingly by voters in Tucson last fall , ” the statement said .
The proposal announced by Ducey during last month 's State of the State address brought back warnings from Democrats about the return to “ one of the darkest years in Arizona history ” — referencing the 2010 passage of the law known as SB1070 , which was designed to crack down on illegal immigration .
The courts upheld the law ’ s ban on sanctuary policies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers , while enforcing other laws , question the immigration status of people suspected of being in the country illegally .
Other provisions of the landmark law — such as a requirement that immigrants carry registration papers — were barred by the courts .
The governor had a testy exchange with reporters earlier Thursday who pressed him on what was a clear change in his yearslong practice of discouraging divisive immigration legislation .
He said he had not changed his stance and shrugged off concerns that boycotts and loss of business that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur again .
“ The state is booming , ” the governor said .
“ I think what would hurt the state ’ s reputation is sanctuary cities , which people have tried to put on the ballot .
That ’ s what would hurt the state ’ s reputation .
The state ’ s reputation is just fine .
We ’ ve got people moving here every day.
” Ducey cites as his motivation now a ballot measure to create a sanctuary city in Tucson last November that was widely rejected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronghold cited SB1070 's ban and the potential loss of state and federal dollars in campaigning against the effort .
Democratic Sen. Martin Quezada said Thursday that Ducey has made a major political miscalculation and that 's why he was dodging questions on “ a huge change ” in policy .
He predicted a fast retreat by the governor .
“ I think he saw what happened in Tucson and he thought ‘ Hey , this is low-hanging fruit and I can slam- dunk an issue that ’ s really big with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his political base , and it ’ s going to pass easily if it gets to the ballot , ' ” Quezada said before the decision to pull the proposal was announced .
“ He didn ’ t really think it through , because the reality is the people in general are kind of sick of this stuff , and I think he ’ s going to start backtracking very soon.
” On Thursday afternoon , the governor showed no hint that he would back down , or that he had changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had damaged the state 's economy and reputation a decade ago .
Ducey spent his first years in office working to repair the state 's reputation and business ties with Mexico .
“ There is no change .
This has been consistent , ” he said .
`` I ’ ve been promoting Arizona , making sure I ’ ve differentiated us from California at every turn .
Lower taxes , lighter regulation , public safety , border security .
We ’ re anti-drugs , human trafficking , child sex trafficking .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been doing for five years .
“ I ’ ve been against sanctuary cities , and it 's not a sea change .
”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican lawmakers have pulled a contentious proposal to enshrine an existing ban on so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state constitution.
The decision announced late Thursday night came on the eve of a now-canceled House hearing on the proposal the Republican governor asked lawmakers to send to voters. A Senate hearing last week erupted in shouting and resulted in the removal of activists who called the proposal racist.
Republican leaders of the House and Senate and the governor’s spokesman issued similar statements on the decision.
“We can confirm that legislation related to a constitutional ban on sanctuary cities will not receive additional consideration this session — a decision made jointly by legislative leadership and the Governor,” the statement from GOP leaders issued by House majority spokesman Andrew Wilder said. “Sanctuary cities are illegal in Arizona. It will remain that way, and our members will remain vigilant to keep these bad policies out of Arizona.”
The statement from Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak said the state will also continue to oppose sanctuary policies that shield immigrants caught illegally in the state.
“The governor stands firmly with the people of Arizona in opposition to sanctuary cities, a California-style policy rejected overwhelmingly by voters in Tucson last fall,” the statement said.
The proposal announced by Ducey during last month’s State of the State address brought back warnings from Democrats about the return to “one of the darkest years in Arizona history” — referencing the 2010 passage of the law known as SB1070, which was designed to crack down on illegal immigration.
The courts upheld the law’s ban on sanctuary policies and its key feature: a requirement that police officers, while enforcing other laws, question the immigration status of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Other provisions of the landmark law — such as a requirement that immigrants carry registration papers — were barred by the courts.
The governor had a testy exchange with reporters earlier Thursday who pressed him on what was a clear change in his yearslong practice of discouraging divisive immigration legislation. He said he had not changed his stance and shrugged off concerns that boycotts and loss of business that followed passage of S.B. 1070 would occur again.
“The state is booming,” the governor said. “I think what would hurt the state’s reputation is sanctuary cities, which people have tried to put on the ballot. That’s what would hurt the state’s reputation. The state’s reputation is just fine. We’ve got people moving here every day.”
Ducey cites as his motivation now a ballot measure to create a sanctuary city in Tucson last November that was widely rejected by voters. City leaders in the Democratic stronghold cited SB1070’s ban and the potential loss of state and federal dollars in campaigning against the effort.
Democratic Sen. Martin Quezada said Thursday that Ducey has made a major political miscalculation and that’s why he was dodging questions on “a huge change” in policy. He predicted a fast retreat by the governor.
“I think he saw what happened in Tucson and he thought ‘Hey, this is low-hanging fruit and I can slam- dunk an issue that’s really big with the Trump crowd and with the extreme element of his political base, and it’s going to pass easily if it gets to the ballot,’ ” Quezada said before the decision to pull the proposal was announced. “He didn’t really think it through, because the reality is the people in general are kind of sick of this stuff, and I think he’s going to start backtracking very soon.”
On Thursday afternoon, the governor showed no hint that he would back down, or that he had changed his position on avoiding contentious immigration issues that had damaged the state’s economy and reputation a decade ago.
Ducey spent his first years in office working to repair the state’s reputation and business ties with Mexico.
“There is no change. This has been consistent,” he said. “I’ve been promoting Arizona, making sure I’ve differentiated us from California at every turn. Lower taxes, lighter regulation, public safety, border security. We’re anti-drugs, human trafficking, child sex trafficking. These are all policies I’ve been doing for five years.
“I’ve been against sanctuary cities, and it’s not a sea change.”


shareblue--2020-02-21--Trump claimed tariffs will pay for farmers' bailouts. He's wrong.

Donald Trump on Friday continued to peddle a false narrative that tariffs levied against Chinese goods would pay for the billions of dollars in bailout money his administration has pledged to farmers hurt by his trade policies .
`` IF OUR FORMALLY TARGETED FARMERS NEED ADDITIONAL AID UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE TRADE DEALS WITH CHINA , MEXICO , CANADA AND OTHERS FULLY KICK IN , '' Trump tweeted , `` THAT AID WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT , PAID FOR OUT OF THE MASSIVE TARIFF MONEY COMING INTO THE USA ! ''
In August , Politifact looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levied against Chinese imports would pay for the farmer bailouts — and determined it was false .
`` Trump 's claim simply does not reflect how tariffs work , '' it found .
`` The tariffs imposed by Trump have been paid almost entirely by U.S. importers , who pass much of that on to consumers through price increases . ''
In fact , American consumers and companies pay for `` approximately 100 percent '' of tariffs , according to a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research .
Trump is correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great deal of harm to farmers .
From the time Trump launched his extended trade war with China through June 2019 , farm bankruptcies increased by 45 % , according to data from the Farm Bureau and Center for American Progress Action Fund .
In 2019 , Wisconsin saw a record number of dairy farms go out of business .
In response , the administration promised farmers it would offset the damage to their stockpiles and revenue by handing out billions in bailout money .
So far , that bailout has cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That sum is more than twice the $ 12 billion the Obama administration spent on the auto industry bailout in the early part of his first term , for which he was criticized by Republicans .
Additionally , Trump 's farmer bailout has been slammed by many farmers as insufficient .
`` This [ bailout ] was supposed to make sure farmers were not the victims of this trade policy , '' Jim Malhern , president of the National Milk Producers Federation , told the New York Times in 2018 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the payments have not come close to making up for the damage for the tariffs . ''
In December , the Trump administration announced the first phase of a new trade deal with China , promising farmers relief from the trade war .
However , a February report from the Department of Agriculture showed that commodity prices did not get a boost from the deal and some experts remain concerned that China is still beholden to other trade contracts that would prevent it from buying American product quickly enough to make a difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Friday continued to peddle a false narrative that tariffs levied against Chinese goods would pay for the billions of dollars in bailout money his administration has pledged to farmers hurt by his trade policies.
“IF OUR FORMALLY TARGETED FARMERS NEED ADDITIONAL AID UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE TRADE DEALS WITH CHINA, MEXICO, CANADA AND OTHERS FULLY KICK IN,” Trump tweeted, “THAT AID WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PAID FOR OUT OF THE MASSIVE TARIFF MONEY COMING INTO THE USA!”
This is a lie.
In August, Politifact looked into the same claim — that tariffs levied against Chinese imports would pay for the farmer bailouts — and determined it was false.
“Trump’s claim simply does not reflect how tariffs work,” it found. “The tariffs imposed by Trump have been paid almost entirely by U.S. importers, who pass much of that on to consumers through price increases.”
In fact, American consumers and companies pay for “approximately 100 percent” of tariffs, according to a report from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Trump is correct in that his trade policies have caused a great deal of harm to farmers.
From the time Trump launched his extended trade war with China through June 2019, farm bankruptcies increased by 45%, according to data from the Farm Bureau and Center for American Progress Action Fund. In 2019, Wisconsin saw a record number of dairy farms go out of business.
In response, the administration promised farmers it would offset the damage to their stockpiles and revenue by handing out billions in bailout money.
So far, that bailout has cost American taxpayers at least $28 billion. That sum is more than twice the $12 billion the Obama administration spent on the auto industry bailout in the early part of his first term, for which he was criticized by Republicans.
Additionally, Trump’s farmer bailout has been slammed by many farmers as insufficient.
“This [bailout] was supposed to make sure farmers were not the victims of this trade policy,” Jim Malhern, president of the National Milk Producers Federation, told the New York Times in 2018. “I think most agriculture producers feel that the payments have not come close to making up for the damage for the tariffs.”
In December, the Trump administration announced the first phase of a new trade deal with China, promising farmers relief from the trade war. However, a February report from the Department of Agriculture showed that commodity prices did not get a boost from the deal and some experts remain concerned that China is still beholden to other trade contracts that would prevent it from buying American product quickly enough to make a difference to U.S. growers.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.