occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Trump flip flops, claims his executive privilege prevents Bolton’s impeachment trial testimony

Impeached President Donald J. Trump just completed a total reversal on his position about testimony from the key witness in his onrushing Senate trial .
He now says he will attempt to use executive privilege to block his former National Security Advisor ( NSA ) from appearing as a witness in the case .
It ’ s both a legally and historically dubious claim in the face of impeachment proceedings , which the Speaker of the House just announced will proceed to trial next week .
On Monday , the former NSA and ex-UN Amb .
John Bolton announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial if compelled to testify , blindsiding the White House .
Yesterday , the President held a press conference on his ambitious plans to allow polluters free rein , where he was asked by reporters if he had a problem letting Bolton testify .
He replied : “ I don ’ t stop it.
” But today , Trump completely flip-flopped and announced that he plans to invoke executive privilege in a last-ditch effort to block the former NSA from testifying to the Senate .
After former national security adviser John Bolton said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testify in the impeachment trial if called , Trump expressed concern about the precedent it would set .
Asked if he would invoke executive privilege to stop it , Trump said , “ Well , I think you have to for the sake of the office.
” Donald Trump ’ s rapid reversal could be a sign that he won ’ t have the Republican votes necessary to hold as unfair a trial as he ’ d like Majority leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) to engineer since only three to four defections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subpoena witnesses to testify .
Executive privilege is the right of the President to shield certain communications and documents from Congressional or judicial oversight under very specific circumstances .
Though President Dwight D. Eisenhower coined the term “ executive privilege , ” its origins actually date to President George Washington ’ s refusal to surrender certain documents to a Congressional subpoena in 1792 .
Even he said that impeachment would rend the privilege to withhold records asunder .
A conservative legal expert weighed in recently to say that executive privilege won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records or aides from testimony .
Late last year , Trump lost a major ruling in his attempt to use the privilege to prevent testimony entirely and is still litigating that case in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals , where it is likely destined to set a lasting president that will limit the use of the power forever .
Finally , the courts limited the use of executive privilege in the famous Supreme Court case , U.S. vs. Nixon , when President Richard Nixon tried to withhold White House recordings but ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the material to the Watergate special prosecutor ’ s grand jury investigation .
Nixon handed over the “ smoking gun tapes ” confirming that he knew about the Watergate break-in which he covered up , and he resigned three days later , just two weeks after the House Judiciary Committee had voted to approve three articles of impeachment against him .
A well-placed source on Capitol Hill told Occupy Democrats earlier today that Speaker Pelosi ’ s evolving knowledge of former NSA John Bolton ’ s testimony is one of the determining factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of impeachment .
President Trump ’ s do-or-die effort to stop Bolton from testifying only highlights how damaging the totality of what he could tell the Senators must be when taking into consideration his stature as a deeply confirmed hard-right ideologue with a high level of respect inside the Republican party .
Yet , nobody knows if Senate Republicans will set partisanship aside and after a fair trial convict Trump of abuse of power , regardless of how damning the facts that Ambassador Bolton or any other potential witnesses present because what has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he hasn ’ t presented even a single scrap of evidence or even a serious argument in his own defense .
What do you think ?

Impeached President Donald J. Trump just completed a total reversal on his position about testimony from the key witness in his onrushing Senate trial. He now says he will attempt to use executive privilege to block his former National Security Advisor (NSA) from appearing as a witness in the case.
It’s both a legally and historically dubious claim in the face of impeachment proceedings, which the Speaker of the House just announced will proceed to trial next week.
On Monday, the former NSA and ex-UN Amb. John Bolton announced that he would appear at a Senate impeachment trial if compelled to testify, blindsiding the White House.
Yesterday, the President held a press conference on his ambitious plans to allow polluters free rein, where he was asked by reporters if he had a problem letting Bolton testify. He replied: “I don’t stop it.”
But today, Trump completely flip-flopped and announced that he plans to invoke executive privilege in a last-ditch effort to block the former NSA from testifying to the Senate.
Bloomberg reports:
After former national security adviser John Bolton said this week he would be willing to testify in the impeachment trial if called, Trump expressed concern about the precedent it would set. Asked if he would invoke executive privilege to stop it, Trump said, “Well, I think you have to for the sake of the office.”
Donald Trump’s rapid reversal could be a sign that he won’t have the Republican votes necessary to hold as unfair a trial as he’d like Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to engineer since only three to four defections from his party would be enough to subpoena witnesses to testify.
Executive privilege is the right of the President to shield certain communications and documents from Congressional or judicial oversight under very specific circumstances.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Though President Dwight D. Eisenhower coined the term “executive privilege,” its origins actually date to President George Washington’s refusal to surrender certain documents to a Congressional subpoena in 1792. Even he said that impeachment would rend the privilege to withhold records asunder.
A conservative legal expert weighed in recently to say that executive privilege won’t ultimately shield Trump’s communications, records or aides from testimony. Late last year, Trump lost a major ruling in his attempt to use the privilege to prevent testimony entirely and is still litigating that case in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, where it is likely destined to set a lasting president that will limit the use of the power forever.
Finally, the courts limited the use of executive privilege in the famous Supreme Court case, U.S. vs. Nixon, when President Richard Nixon tried to withhold White House recordings but ultimately was ordered by the court to deliver the material to the Watergate special prosecutor’s grand jury investigation. Nixon handed over the “smoking gun tapes” confirming that he knew about the Watergate break-in which he covered up, and he resigned three days later, just two weeks after the House Judiciary Committee had voted to approve three articles of impeachment against him.
A well-placed source on Capitol Hill told Occupy Democrats earlier today that Speaker Pelosi’s evolving knowledge of former NSA John Bolton’s testimony is one of the determining factors in releasing her hold on the articles of impeachment.
President Trump’s do-or-die effort to stop Bolton from testifying only highlights how damaging the totality of what he could tell the Senators must be when taking into consideration his stature as a deeply confirmed hard-right ideologue with a high level of respect inside the Republican party.
Yet, nobody knows if Senate Republicans will set partisanship aside and after a fair trial convict Trump of abuse of power, regardless of how damning the facts that Ambassador Bolton or any other potential witnesses present because what has come out already supports finding Trump guilty and he hasn’t presented even a single scrap of evidence or even a serious argument in his own defense.


occupydemocrats--2020-01-10--Trump drone strike hits 60 innocent people as U.S kills Taliban commander we once gave money, weapon

Trump drone strike hits 60 innocent people as U.S kills Taliban commander we once gave money, weapons to

While the world ’ s attention is fixated on the fallout of the Trump administration ’ s assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani , yet another year of senseless bloodshed in Afghanistan continues with little fanfare or notice .
Local officials in the Shindand district of Herat province say that an American airstrike against a Taliban splinter group commander has killed or wounded over 60 civilians , along with the target , Mullah Nangyalay .
al Jazeera reports that “ ‘ According to the people , over 60 civilians were killed and wounded in the operation , ’ Toryalai Tahiri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Afghan local media TOLO News.
” The grimly tragic irony is that Mullah Nangialai Khan and his fighters had been part of a breakaway Taliban faction that had been provided with financial and military support by the U.S. and the Afghan government in hopes of “ sowing rifts ” and “ nudging the insurgency towards peace talks.
” Nangalay ’ s group had been given cash , weapons , and ammo back in 2016 to aid them in their efforts to take control of the opium-rich Zerkoh valley from a rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States tries to play puppetmaster with extremist groups , it didn ’ t work out .
The United States paid and armed a terror group to rule this valley with an iron fist , then made innocent civilians pay with their lives when he was no longer useful .
The quietly released “ Afghanistan Papers ” alleges that the Pentagon had no idea what they were doing in Afghanistan or why they were doing it throughout the nineteen years of endless slaughter , and it is cases like that of Mullah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still haven ’ t figured it out .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
The 60 civilian casualties from Wednesday come on the heels of a gruesome September airstrike in which the U.S mistook a camp of pine nut farmers for an IS hideout , killing 30 people and wounded 40 more .
The civilian casualty rate has skyrocketed in the last year , with over 8,000 innocent Afghans dead or wounded in the first ten months of 2019 alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of innocent people will pass without the briefest of mention in the American media or by any politicians , yet another repulsive reminder about how normalized and desensitized we have become to the mass murder of innocent people of color by the American imperial machine .
The refusal of the mainstream media and political leadership of either party to challenge or even acknowledge the slaughter being carried out in our name is an affront to human rights and to the values that the United States is supposed to stand for .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives of the Iraqis , Syrians , Yemenis , and Afghans killed by our bombs contributes to their dehumanization and feeds into right-wing Islamophobic tropes that paint all Muslims as terrorists who deserve their deaths .
While we rightfully fret over the prospect of yet another endless war with Iran , we must not forget about the other wars we are currently waging , or the horrifying atrocities being carried out in the name of “ freedom ” — and demand that our next president hold our military accountable for their crimes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?

While the world’s attention is fixated on the fallout of the Trump administration’s assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, yet another year of senseless bloodshed in Afghanistan continues with little fanfare or notice. Local officials in the Shindand district of Herat province say that an American airstrike against a Taliban splinter group commander has killed or wounded over 60 civilians, along with the target, Mullah Nangyalay.
Al Jazeera reports that “‘According to the people, over 60 civilians were killed and wounded in the operation,’ Toryalai Tahiri, deputy head of Herat provincial council, told Afghan local media TOLO News.”
The grimly tragic irony is that Mullah Nangialai Khan and his fighters had been part of a breakaway Taliban faction that had been provided with financial and military support by the U.S. and the Afghan government in hopes of “sowing rifts” and “nudging the insurgency towards peace talks.”
Nangialai’s group had been given cash, weapons, and ammo back in 2016 to aid them in their efforts to take control of the opium-rich Zerkoh valley from a rival Taliban faction, but like every time the United States tries to play puppetmaster with extremist groups, it didn’t work out.
The United States paid and armed a terror group to rule this valley with an iron fist, then made innocent civilians pay with their lives when he was no longer useful.
The quietly released “Afghanistan Papers” alleges that the Pentagon had no idea what they were doing in Afghanistan or why they were doing it throughout the nineteen years of endless slaughter, and it is cases like that of Mullah Nangialai that make it clear that they still haven’t figured it out.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
The 60 civilian casualties from Wednesday come on the heels of a gruesome September airstrike in which the U.S mistook a camp of pine nut farmers for an IS hideout, killing 30 people and wounded 40 more. The civilian casualty rate has skyrocketed in the last year, with over 8,000 innocent Afghans dead or wounded in the first ten months of 2019 alone.
But once again, the mass killing of innocent people will pass without the briefest of mention in the American media or by any politicians, yet another repulsive reminder about how normalized and desensitized we have become to the mass murder of innocent people of color by the American imperial machine.
The refusal of the mainstream media and political leadership of either party to challenge or even acknowledge the slaughter being carried out in our name is an affront to human rights and to the values that the United States is supposed to stand for. The American failure to recognize and mourn the lives of the Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis, and Afghans killed by our bombs contributes to their dehumanization and feeds into right-wing Islamophobic tropes that paint all Muslims as terrorists who deserve their deaths.
While we rightfully fret over the prospect of yet another endless war with Iran, we must not forget about the other wars we are currently waging, or the horrifying atrocities being carried out in the name of “freedom” — and demand that our next president hold our military accountable for their crimes and their lies.
Original reporting by al-Jazeera.
Colin Taylor Opinion columnist and former editor-in-chief of Occupy Democrats. He graduated from Bennington College with a Bachelor's degree in history and political science. He now focuses on advancing the cause of social justice and equality in America. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-10--New report says Trump admitted he was pressured to kill Soleimani by Senators over impeachment

As the fallout from the Trump administration ’ s reckless assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani continues to rain down and the death toll continues to grow , their justification for the questionably legal killing has grown thinner by the day .
While the Trump team and their sycophants in the media have relentlessly tried to push the narrative that our intelligence had evidence that Soleimani was orchestrating an “ imminent ” attack against the United States , their inability to give any kind of details about this mysterious and heinous attack has led many to believe that the assassination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security reasons .
Those suspicions were confirmed on Friday afternoon when the Wall Street Journal reported that the President had told his associates that he had to “ deal with ” Solemiani in order to buy their goodwill and support in his upcoming impeachment trial .
Given the way that the President and their team can not keep their story straight over what exactly the beloved Iranian general was planning , it ’ s almost certain at this point that the President of the United States has now abused both our military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to advance his personal political agenda .
The Trump team ’ s story began falling apart earlier this week after Sen. Mike Lee ( R-UT ) stormed out of an intelligence briefing complaining that the Trump team told him not to publicly dissent or question the administration ’ s story and that when pushed for justification was told “ I ’ m sure we could think of something.
” McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Having apparently thought of something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night that Qassem Soleimani was plotting to attack a U.S. embassy , then predictably inflated that number to four embassies in a discussion with FOX white supremacist host Laura Ingraham .
But when questioned for details on these accusations , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted this morning that they “ don ’ t know precisely when and we don ’ t know precisely where ” these attacks would take but assured the nation that “ it was real.
” Given the Trump administration ’ s proclivity for lying about literally anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give any more details about this supposed attacks , and now the allegations that the president himself admitted he murdered Soleimani for political purposes , it ’ s safe to deduce that the White House is lying about the embassy attack threat .
Speaker Pelosi announced this morning that she was preparing to send two articles of impeachment to the Senate for withholding military aid from Ukraine in a harebrained scheme to coerce them into holding sham investigations into 2020 challenger Joe Biden , but it appears that she should hold off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of Qassem Soleimani will send shockwaves through the Middle East and already hundreds have died because of the President ’ s actions ; for him to have put our national security at risk , to have put the lives of our troops in danger just so he could buy favor with Senators is an appalling abuse of his war powers , and he must be held accountable for it .
Original reporting by Michael C. Bender , Michael R. Gordon , Gordon Lubold and Warren P. Strobel at the Wall Street Journal @ @ @ @ @ @

As the fallout from the Trump administration’s reckless assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani continues to rain down and the death toll continues to grow, their justification for the questionably legal killing has grown thinner by the day. While the Trump team and their sycophants in the media have relentlessly tried to push the narrative that our intelligence had evidence that Soleimani was orchestrating an “imminent” attack against the United States, their inability to give any kind of details about this mysterious and heinous attack has led many to believe that the assassination was done for impeachment reasons rather than national security reasons.
Those suspicions were confirmed on Friday afternoon when the Wall Street Journal reported that the President had told his associates that he had to “deal with” Solemiani in order to buy their goodwill and support in his upcoming impeachment trial. Given the way that the President and their team cannot keep their story straight over what exactly the beloved Iranian general was planning, it’s almost certain at this point that the President of the United States has now abused both our military aid and our military itself in order to advance his personal political agenda.
Quite the nugget in this WSJ story —> "Mr. Trump, after the strike, told associates he was under pressure to deal with Gen. Soleimani from GOP senators he views as important supporters in his coming impeachment trial in the Senate, associates said" https://t.co/3xxLFJ6XTk — Dave Brown (@dave_brown24) January 10, 2020
The Trump team’s story began falling apart earlier this week after Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) stormed out of an intelligence briefing complaining that the Trump team told him not to publicly dissent or question the administration’s story and that when pushed for justification was told “I’m sure we could think of something.”
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Having apparently thought of something, President Trump announced at a rally last night that Qassem Soleimani was plotting to attack a U.S. embassy, then predictably inflated that number to four embassies in a discussion with FOX white supremacist host Laura Ingraham.
Trump now tells Laura Ingraham four embassies were involved in the plots, per a clip that just aired on Fox News. Yesterday, he said singular embassy, last night mentioned multiple and now is more specific than his national security aides have been, though doesn't say which ones. — Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 10, 2020
But when questioned for details on these accusations, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted this morning that they “don’t know precisely when and we don’t know precisely where” these attacks would take but assured the nation that “it was real.”
Given the Trump administration’s proclivity for lying about literally anything whenever it suits them, their refusal to give any more details about this supposed attacks, and now the allegations that the president himself admitted he murdered Soleimani for political purposes, it’s safe to deduce that the White House is lying about the embassy attack threat.
Speaker Pelosi announced this morning that she was preparing to send two articles of impeachment to the Senate for withholding military aid from Ukraine in a harebrained scheme to coerce them into holding sham investigations into 2020 challenger Joe Biden, but it appears that she should hold off and draft up one more.
The death of Qassem Soleimani will send shockwaves through the Middle East and already hundreds have died because of the President’s actions; for him to have put our national security at risk, to have put the lives of our troops in danger just so he could buy favor with Senators is an appalling abuse of his war powers, and he must be held accountable for it.
Original reporting by Michael C. Bender, Michael R. Gordon, Gordon Lubold and Warren P. Strobel at the Wall Street Journal.
Colin Taylor Opinion columnist and former editor-in-chief of Occupy Democrats. He graduated from Bennington College with a Bachelor's degree in history and political science. He now focuses on advancing the cause of social justice and equality in America. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-10--Republican Senator Susan Collins spearheading push to allow new Trump impeachment witnesses

The Founders never anticipated a creature like Mitch McConnell .
Perhaps naively , they thought that a president who constituted an obvious threat to the Republic would be impeached by the will of both parties .
Under the current president , we have seen that assumption tested to the breaking point .
Our current Senate Majority Leader clearly cares little about our democracy and is more than content to protect Trump so long as he keeps using the Oval Office to rubberstamp favorable tax policies for the super-rich and to cram underqualified reactionaries into the judicial branch .
Once Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate , McConnell will muster every ounce of his not insubstantial power to quickly exonerate Trump and prevent any new damaging information from being revealed to the American people .
Knowing that , Pelosi has been holding off and pushing for McConnell to agree to allow new evidence and testimonies during the Senate trial .
He has refused .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Unfortunately for McConnell , it appears his house is not fully in order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Collins ( R-ME ) is working with what she calls a “ fairly small group ” of other Republicans to make sure that witnesses will be permitted to testify during the impeachment trial .
The fact that there is even the possibility that they would be banned shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become , but Collins should be commended for her efforts .
She defended her opinion by stating that the Senate “ should be completely open to calling witnesses.
” “ I am hopeful that we can reach an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial that will allow the opportunity for both the House and the president ’ s counsel if they choose to do so , ” Collins went on .
It remains to be seen if Collins is successful or if she even follows through on her promise but at this point any dissent in the GOP ranks is good news .
Hopefully , there are a few Republican senators left with even a scrap of love for this country left .
What do you think ?

The Founders never anticipated a creature like Mitch McConnell. Perhaps naively, they thought that a president who constituted an obvious threat to the Republic would be impeached by the will of both parties. Under the current president, we have seen that assumption tested to the breaking point.
Our current Senate Majority Leader clearly cares little about our democracy and is more than content to protect Trump so long as he keeps using the Oval Office to rubberstamp favorable tax policies for the super-rich and to cram underqualified reactionaries into the judicial branch. Once Speaker Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate, McConnell will muster every ounce of his not insubstantial power to quickly exonerate Trump and prevent any new damaging information from being revealed to the American people. Knowing that, Pelosi has been holding off and pushing for McConnell to agree to allow new evidence and testimonies during the Senate trial. He has refused.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Unfortunately for McConnell, it appears his house is not fully in order. According to Bangor Daily News, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is working with what she calls a “fairly small group” of other Republicans to make sure that witnesses will be permitted to testify during the impeachment trial. The fact that there is even the possibility that they would be banned shows how morally bankrupt the GOP has become, but Collins should be commended for her efforts. She defended her opinion by stating that the Senate “should be completely open to calling witnesses.”
“I am hopeful that we can reach an agreement on how to proceed with the trial that will allow the opportunity for both the House and the president’s counsel if they choose to do so,” Collins went on.
It remains to be seen if Collins is successful or if she even follows through on her promise but at this point any dissent in the GOP ranks is good news. Hopefully, there are a few Republican senators left with even a scrap of love for this country left.
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-10--Speaker Pelosi says she’s preparing to send articles of Trump impeachment to the Senate

On Friday morning , the Speaker of the House announced that she will initiate the process to transmit a pair of articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump to the Senate , beginning the process of putting him on trial for crimes of office .
Rep. Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) released a “ Dear Colleague ” letter informing the House that a resolution to transmit the articles will go to the House floor next Tuesday , and impeachment managers will be named to prosecute the case .
The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment against Trump for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on December 18th , 2019 .
While it was well known at the time that Speaker Pelosi planned to withhold them for a couple of weeks to allow the Senate to take its pre-planned recess before beginning the trial , she elected to hold them longer than expected in an attempt to force Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) to agree to terms that would ensure a fair trial .
Now , it appears that the Speaker got what she wanted , which was a series of very public and increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate majority leader to President Trump .
While she was unable to wrest an agreement to call four new witnesses before the trial began , she did successfully bait the Majority Leader into exposing his contempt for the constitutional process .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
“ For weeks now , Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been engaged in tactics of delay in presenting transparency , disregard for the American people ’ s interest for a fair trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yesterday , he showed his true colors and made his intentions to stonewall a fair trial even clearer by signing on to a resolution that would dismiss the charges , ” wrote the Speaker .
“ A dismissal is a cover-up and deprives the American people of the truth .
Leader McConnell ’ s tactics are a clear indication of the fear that he and President Trump have regarding the facts of the President ’ s violations for which he was impeached.
” “ The Speaker ’ s letter today comes against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shape of former National Security Advisor John Bolton ’ s testimony , as well as other nonpublic information , ” says a well-placed source on The Hill to Occupy Democrats on the condition of anonymity .
“ House leaders are keenly aware that the president ’ s impeachment lawyers are also fact witnesses in the case .
That point doesn ’ t seem to bother Senator McConnell now , but that could bother his colleagues.
” “ It was the consensus decision of the House Democratic caucus that led Speaker Pelosi to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering the articles of impeachment to the Senate , ” a top House Democratic leadership aide told Occupy Democrats on background .
“ Now that everyone is on board , we can move forward.
” In late July , when Speaker Pelosi laid out the roadmap to impeachment after having secretly learned a week earlier that the President was illegally withholding $ 400 million in congressionally appropriated military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia , she said : “ The stronger our case is , the worse the Senate will look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Since then , Trump turned the Camp David presidential country retreat into an “ adult playground ” for Republican Senators , whose leader promised total coordination with the White House and an unfair trial .
Republican plans to obstruct President Donald J. Trump ’ s impeachment trial came to a head this week when Sen. “ Moscow ” Mitch McConnell signed on to a desperation plan by the Senate GOP caucus that would circumvent the upper chamber ’ s rules on impeachment entirely to dismiss the case without a trial .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have with their slim , 53-47 vote majority , the Kentucky Republican threatened to use the “ nuclear option ” to obliterate the rules on impeachment trials that date back to 1868 .
Legal experts have opined that an unfair trial can not exonerate President Trump , so a pre-trial dismissal would definitely leave the question of his guilt hanging forever .
In addition to the information presented at public hearings in November , Speaker Pelosi cited four major developments after the House ’ s articles impeachment passed against President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
First , she highlighted the contents of a cache of damning emails obtained two days after the impeachment vote between the Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) —the White House agency that manages the actual transmission of funds— and the Pentagon asking them to hold security aid to Ukraine .
Second , Pelosi indicated the importance of the New York Times ‘ late-December in-depth report showing the key role played by Trump ’ s acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney , who is concurrently the senate-confirmed head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump was breaking the law which were flooding the administration .
Third , the Speaker noted a report by Just Security in early January which exposed the redacted portions from the above-described emails .
This was information that should have been provided to the public , but which the Trump Administration hid for the sake of stonewalling a federal court order in addition to its refusal of any cooperation with Congress .
Lastly , she pointed to the announcement that former National Security Advisor John Bolton has agreed to testify to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony indicated that he has a very low opinion of Trump ’ s personal lawyer and private international emissary Rudy Giuliani , whose machinations he called a “ drug deal ” before directing his subordinates to inform National Security Council lawyers “ In an impeachment trial , every Senator takes an oath to ‘ do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.
’ Every Senator now faces a choice : to be loyal to the President or the Constitution , ” concluded Speaker Pelosi ’ s letter .
“ No one is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President.
” Read the whole letter here .
What do you think ?

On Friday morning, the Speaker of the House announced that she will initiate the process to transmit a pair of articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump to the Senate, beginning the process of putting him on trial for crimes of office.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a “Dear Colleague” letter informing the House that a resolution to transmit the articles will go to the House floor next Tuesday, and impeachment managers will be named to prosecute the case.
The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment against Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on December 18th, 2019. While it was well known at the time that Speaker Pelosi planned to withhold them for a couple of weeks to allow the Senate to take its pre-planned recess before beginning the trial, she elected to hold them longer than expected in an attempt to force Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to agree to terms that would ensure a fair trial.
Now, it appears that the Speaker got what she wanted, which was a series of very public and increasingly desperate showings of fealty by the Republican Senate majority leader to President Trump. While she was unable to wrest an agreement to call four new witnesses before the trial began, she did successfully bait the Majority Leader into exposing his contempt for the constitutional process.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Pelosi began her letter:
“For weeks now, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been engaged in tactics of delay in presenting transparency, disregard for the American people’s interest for a fair trial and dismissal of the facts.” “Yesterday, he showed his true colors and made his intentions to stonewall a fair trial even clearer by signing on to a resolution that would dismiss the charges,” wrote the Speaker. “A dismissal is a cover-up and deprives the American people of the truth. Leader McConnell’s tactics are a clear indication of the fear that he and President Trump have regarding the facts of the President’s violations for which he was impeached.”
“The Speaker’s letter today comes against the backdrop of a series of revelations regarding the shape of former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s testimony, as well as other nonpublic information,” says a well-placed source on The Hill to Occupy Democrats on the condition of anonymity. “House leaders are keenly aware that the president’s impeachment lawyers are also fact witnesses in the case. That point doesn’t seem to bother Senator McConnell now, but that could bother his colleagues.”
“It was the consensus decision of the House Democratic caucus that led Speaker Pelosi to choose today to begin the process of delivering the articles of impeachment to the Senate,” a top House Democratic leadership aide told Occupy Democrats on background. “Now that everyone is on board, we can move forward.”
In late July, when Speaker Pelosi laid out the roadmap to impeachment after having secretly learned a week earlier that the President was illegally withholding $400 million in congressionally appropriated military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, she said: “The stronger our case is, the worse the Senate will look for letting the President off the hook.”
Since then, Trump turned the Camp David presidential country retreat into an “adult playground” for Republican Senators, whose leader promised total coordination with the White House and an unfair trial.
Republican plans to obstruct President Donald J. Trump’s impeachment trial came to a head this week when Sen. “Moscow” Mitch McConnell signed on to a desperation plan by the Senate GOP caucus that would circumvent the upper chamber’s rules on impeachment entirely to dismiss the case without a trial.
While it takes a 2/3rds vote that Republicans don’t have with their slim, 53-47 vote majority, the Kentucky Republican threatened to use the “nuclear option” to obliterate the rules on impeachment trials that date back to 1868.
Legal experts have opined that an unfair trial cannot exonerate President Trump, so a pre-trial dismissal would definitely leave the question of his guilt hanging forever.
In addition to the information presented at public hearings in November, Speaker Pelosi cited four major developments after the House’s articles impeachment passed against President Trump as crucial to their prosecution of the case.
First, she highlighted the contents of a cache of damning emails obtained two days after the impeachment vote between the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)—the White House agency that manages the actual transmission of funds— and the Pentagon asking them to hold security aid to Ukraine.
Second, Pelosi indicated the importance of the New York Times‘ late-December in-depth report showing the key role played by Trump’s acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who is concurrently the senate-confirmed head of the OMB, and the rising concerns that Trump was breaking the law which were flooding the administration.
Third, the Speaker noted a report by Just Security in early January which exposed the redacted portions from the above-described emails. This was information that should have been provided to the public, but which the Trump Administration hid for the sake of stonewalling a federal court order in addition to its refusal of any cooperation with Congress.
Lastly, she pointed to the announcement that former National Security Advisor John Bolton has agreed to testify to the Senate if he is subpoenaed after previous testimony indicated that he has a very low opinion of Trump’s personal lawyer and private international emissary Rudy Giuliani, whose machinations he called a “drug deal” before directing his subordinates to inform National Security Council lawyers
“In an impeachment trial, every Senator takes an oath to ‘do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.’ Every Senator now faces a choice: to be loyal to the President or the Constitution,” concluded Speaker Pelosi’s letter. “No one is above the law, not even the President.”
Read the whole letter here.


occupydemocrats--2020-01-10--Trump uses retweet to mock Pelosi for getting impeachment strategy from TV

The history books will remember Nancy Patricia Pelosi .
She will go down as the perfect woman at the perfect time in history to oppose the worst president who ever slithered into the Oval Office .
At every step of her Speakership she has displayed a mastery of not only understanding Trump but an understanding of the best parliamentary procedures to thwart him .
Her decision to not send the articles of impeachment to the Senate is just such a flourish .
Trump is absolutely infuriated by Pelosi ’ s stratagem .
He knows that once the articles hit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cowed Republicans will use their majority to promptly end the process in his favor .
McConnell has already admitted that he intends to coordinate with the White House .
But by holding out , Pelosi has denied them the ability to “ exonerate ” the president .
It ’ s the perfect solution to an imperfect problem .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
According to a new article in TIME , Pelosi arrived at the idea of her strategy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the idea : “ Pelosi , according to an aide , had been mulling the tactic since she heard former Nixon White House counsel John Dean float the idea on CNN on Dec. 5 .
In the committee meeting , she added that she believed McConnell would be motivated to move .
‘ Somebody said to me today that he may not even take up what we send .
[ But ] then [ Trump ] will never be vindicated , ’ she said , according to the aide in the room .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forever .
No matter what the Senate does , ’ the article reads .
For those concerned about this country ’ s future , it matters not where Pelosi got the idea .
As well ask where Michelangelo first saw the color blue before painting the Sistine .
In either case , the result is ideal .
Since the president is powerless to influence Pelosi ’ s decision , he ’ s ’ resorted to lackluster smears and unconvincing complaints .
This morning , he retweeted one of his sycophants pointing out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching television .
Trump called her “ perhaps the least successful Speaker in U.S. History.
” Not only is he wrong by every metric , he ’ s being laughably hypocritical as usual .
This is a man who gets every idea in his dense head from watching Fox News .
Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity fill the void where a conscience would be in a real person .
Yes , perhaps Pelosi got her latest idea from TV but Donald Trump gets the gaudy simulacrum he calls a soul from the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The history books will remember Nancy Patricia Pelosi. She will go down as the perfect woman at the perfect time in history to oppose the worst president who ever slithered into the Oval Office. At every step of her Speakership she has displayed a mastery of not only understanding Trump but an understanding of the best parliamentary procedures to thwart him. Her decision to not send the articles of impeachment to the Senate is just such a flourish.
Trump is absolutely infuriated by Pelosi’s stratagem. He knows that once the articles hit the Senate for trial Mitch McConnell and his cowed Republicans will use their majority to promptly end the process in his favor. McConnell has already admitted that he intends to coordinate with the White House. But by holding out, Pelosi has denied them the ability to “exonerate” the president. It’s the perfect solution to an imperfect problem.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
According to a new article in TIME, Pelosi arrived at the idea of her strategy after seeing Nixon’s counsel float the idea:
“Pelosi, according to an aide, had been mulling the tactic since she heard former Nixon White House counsel John Dean float the idea on CNN on Dec. 5. In the committee meeting, she added that she believed McConnell would be motivated to move. ‘Somebody said to me today that he may not even take up what we send. [But] then [Trump] will never be vindicated,’ she said, according to the aide in the room. ‘He will be impeached forever. Forever. No matter what the Senate does,’ the article reads.
For those concerned about this country’s future, it matters not where Pelosi got the idea. As well ask where Michelangelo first saw the color blue before painting the Sistine. In either case, the result is ideal.
Since the president is powerless to influence Pelosi’s decision, he’s’ resorted to lackluster smears and unconvincing complaints. This morning, he retweeted one of his sycophants pointing out that Pelosi’s articles idea came from watching television. Trump called her “perhaps the least successful Speaker in U.S. History.”
Not only is he wrong by every metric, he’s being laughably hypocritical as usual. This is a man who gets every idea in his dense head from watching Fox News. Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity fill the void where a conscience would be in a real person.
Yes, perhaps Pelosi got her latest idea from TV but Donald Trump gets the gaudy simulacrum he calls a soul from the same place.
She will go down as perhaps the least successful Speaker in U.S. History! https://t.co/aTCkFW3pr4 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2020
Rob Haffey Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Trump babbles incoherently in response to serious interview question about cybersecurity

President Trump is infamous for his poor understanding of…most things in general , but he ’ s especially incompetent when he comes to issues of technology .
Whether it ’ s cancer-causing windmills or invisible fighter jets , his grasp of technological innovation is extremely lacking , and since taking the presidency he ’ s done absolutely nothing to rectify that .
That much was made obvious this week when he was asked about the threat of cyber attack from Iranian hackers during an interview with ABC13 ’ s Lee Conklin and responded by babbling utter nonsense that made it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cyber ” is .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
This is not the first time that the President has exposed himself as a technological ignoramus , especially when it comes to the “ cyber.
” During a 2016 presidential debate , Donald Trump was asked about American institutions coming under cyber attack , and he responded by talking about how good his son is with the computers : “ So we had to get very , very tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a huge problem .
I have a son—he ’ s 10 years old .
He has computers .
He is so good with these computers .
It ’ s unbelievable .
The security aspect of cyber is very , very tough .
And maybe , it ’ s hardly doable .
But I will say , we are not doing the job we should be doing .
But that ’ s true throughout our whole governmental society .
We have so many things that we have to do better , Lester .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While it understandable how a 73-year-old man might have some trouble grappling with the constant evolution of modern technology , it is deeply disturbing to learn that the President of the United States still possesses such a primitive understanding of one of the foremost security threats to the nation that he ’ s ostensibly in charge of .
What do you think ?

President Trump is infamous for his poor understanding of…most things in general, but he’s especially incompetent when he comes to issues of technology. Whether it’s cancer-causing windmills or invisible fighter jets, his grasp of technological innovation is extremely lacking, and since taking the presidency he’s done absolutely nothing to rectify that.
That much was made obvious this week when he was asked about the threat of cyber attack from Iranian hackers during an interview with ABC13’s Lee Conklin and responded by babbling utter nonsense that made it clear he has no idea what “the cyber” is.
Trump was asked in a Toledo interview yesterday about the cyber threat from Iran. pic.twitter.com/DcECt7kd9r — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 10, 2020
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
This is not the first time that the President has exposed himself as a technological ignoramus, especially when it comes to the “cyber.” During a 2016 presidential debate, Donald Trump was asked about American institutions coming under cyber attack, and he responded by talking about how good his son is with the computers:
“So we had to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare. It is a huge problem. I have a son—he’s 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers. It’s unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe, it’s hardly doable. But I will say, we are not doing the job we should be doing. But that’s true throughout our whole governmental society. We have so many things that we have to do better, Lester. And certainly cyber is one of them.”
While it understandable how a 73-year-old man might have some trouble grappling with the constant evolution of modern technology, it is deeply disturbing to learn that the President of the United States still possesses such a primitive understanding of one of the foremost security threats to the nation that he’s ostensibly in charge of.
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Trump campaign website brags about his “anti-Semetic” exec order in misspelled Freudian Slip

For all of Donald Trump ’ s self-aggrandizement , it ’ s nevertheless undeniable that linguistic facility and spelling , in particular , are not among his minuscule list of strong points .
Neither is attention to detail if the latest embarrassing gaffe to emanate from his campaign website is to be considered .
The Trump campaign combined both misspelling with a probably Freudian misphrasing of the point they were attempting to make in a post on their site that was designed to allow his supporters to thank him for a list of supposed accomplishments .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand he recuse himself from the trial !
While the list includes the usual misleading claims of credit for accomplishments largely attributable to others or simple outright lies and exaggerations , the inclusion in the initial version of the web page of one item , in particular , has raised eyebrows for its prima facie sloppiness and its inadvertent resemblance to something close to the truth about the president ’ s actual intentions as he ’ s demonstrated in his campaign rhetoric during his raucous rallies .
BuzzFeedNews reporter Josh Billinson wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealingly inadvertent — we hope — mistake .
Whether the first version of the page posted by the campaign was the result of a careless error , poor proofreading , or a clever and deniable intentional “ mistake , ” it didn ’ t take long for the Trump campaign staff to rectify the wording of that bullet point once social media started buzzing about it .
The current version of that page now reads : At least they got the spelling right this time .
Still , the internet never forgets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to get a screen capture of the original wording before the correction was made , leaving us with proof of the most on-brand thing that Trump has ever done , as one friend referred to the combination of incompetence and ill-intent that the mistake revealed .
What do you think ?

For all of Donald Trump’s self-aggrandizement, it’s nevertheless undeniable that linguistic facility and spelling, in particular, are not among his minuscule list of strong points.
Neither is attention to detail if the latest embarrassing gaffe to emanate from his campaign website is to be considered.
The Trump campaign combined both misspelling with a probably Freudian misphrasing of the point they were attempting to make in a post on their site that was designed to allow his supporters to thank him for a list of supposed accomplishments.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
While the list includes the usual misleading claims of credit for accomplishments largely attributable to others or simple outright lies and exaggerations, the inclusion in the initial version of the web page of one item, in particular, has raised eyebrows for its prima facie sloppiness and its inadvertent resemblance to something close to the truth about the president’s actual intentions as he’s demonstrated in his campaign rhetoric during his raucous rallies.
BuzzFeedNews reporter Josh Billinson wasn’t the only person to notice the revealingly inadvertent — we hope — mistake.
At least he admits it now. pic.twitter.com/uEZ49chFfK — Imraan Siddiqi (@imraansiddiqi) January 11, 2020
Whether the first version of the page posted by the campaign was the result of a careless error, poor proofreading, or a clever and deniable intentional “mistake,” it didn’t take long for the Trump campaign staff to rectify the wording of that bullet point once social media started buzzing about it.
The current version of that page now reads:
He signed an executive order to combat anti-Semitism
At least they got the spelling right this time.
Still, the internet never forgets, and luckily a few people were smart enough to get a screen capture of the original wording before the correction was made, leaving us with proof of the most on-brand thing that Trump has ever done, as one friend referred to the combination of incompetence and ill-intent that the mistake revealed.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Social media explodes in anger after Trump calls Pelosi “worst Speaker” ever

If only Donald Trump had an ounce of knowledge or sense of history , he wouldn ’ t post tweets like his latest insulting prediction about his chief Democratic antagonist House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) .
Given Speaker Pelosi ’ s success in shepherding Trump ’ s impeachment through the House of Representatives , it ’ s simple to see why this president would hold that opinion .
However , that very fact — plus a bit of awareness of the scandals that plagued some of the people who have held the Speaker ’ s chair during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s assertion laughable to most Democrats and the vast majority of intelligent Americans of any political persuasion .
Why else would # DennisHastert suddenly be trending on Twitter ?
Hastert , an Illinois Republican politician representing that state ’ s 14th congressional district , served as the longest-serving GOP Speaker of the House in history during his tenure from 1999 until 2007 .
As a quick look at his Wikipedia entry could tell Trump , Hastert ’ s fate could presage the president ’ s own future and disabuse him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi ’ s time in the office .
“ On May 28 , 2015 , Hastert was indicted on federal charges of structuring bank withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements and making false statements to federal investigators .
Federal prosecutors said that the funds withdrawn by Hastert were used as hush money to conceal past misconduct by Hastert.
” “ In October 2015 , Hastert entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors .
Under the agreement , Hastert pleaded guilty to the structuring charge ( a felony ) ; the charge of making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April 2016 , federal prosecutors alleged that Hastert had molested at least four boys as young as 14 years of age during his time as a high school wrestling coach.
” “ At a sentencing hearing , Hastert admitted that he had sexually abused boys whom he had coached .
Referring to Hastert as a “ serial child molester ” , a federal judge imposed a sentence of 15 months in prison , two years ’ supervised release , and a $ 250,000 fine .
Hastert was imprisoned in 2016 and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relates .
As the highest-ranking elected official in U.S. history to have served a prison sentence , Hastert is likely to see his title eclipsed if the nation ever manages to deliver to Trump the justice he truly deserves .
The replies to the president ’ s bitter tweet attacking Speaker Pelosi demonstrated that while Trump may have forgotten history , a lot of other people were ready to remind him of the Republican legacy of disgraced House Speakerships .
Hopefully , Donald Trump will read the replies to his tweets and get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change his opinion of Speaker Pelosi is doubtful , but unless Trump is removed from office due to Pelosi ’ s impeachment efforts — either through a fair Senate trial or at the ballot box if Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell ( R-KY ) gets the sham acquittal he is seeking to engineer by failing to call witnesses — some Democrats may be lowering their estimation of Pelosi ’ s performance as well .
What do you think ?

If only Donald Trump had an ounce of knowledge or sense of history, he wouldn’t post tweets like his latest insulting prediction about his chief Democratic antagonist House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Nancy Pelosi will go down as the absolute worst Speaker of the House in U.S. history! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
Given Speaker Pelosi’s success in shepherding Trump’s impeachment through the House of Representatives, it’s simple to see why this president would hold that opinion.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
However, that very fact — plus a bit of awareness of the scandals that plagued some of the people who have held the Speaker’s chair during the course of said U.S. history — makes Trump’s assertion laughable to most Democrats and the vast majority of intelligent Americans of any political persuasion.
Why else would #DennisHastert suddenly be trending on Twitter?
Hastert, an Illinois Republican politician representing that state’s 14th congressional district, served as the longest-serving GOP Speaker of the House in history during his tenure from 1999 until 2007. As a quick look at his Wikipedia entry could tell Trump, Hastert’s fate could presage the president’s own future and disabuse him of his notions about the relative quality of Pelosi’s time in the office.
“On May 28, 2015, Hastert was indicted on federal charges of structuring bank withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements and making false statements to federal investigators. Federal prosecutors said that the funds withdrawn by Hastert were used as hush money to conceal past misconduct by Hastert.” “In October 2015, Hastert entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Under the agreement, Hastert pleaded guilty to the structuring charge (a felony); the charge of making false statements was dropped.In court submissions filed in April 2016, federal prosecutors alleged that Hastert had molested at least four boys as young as 14 years of age during his time as a high school wrestling coach.” “At a sentencing hearing, Hastert admitted that he had sexually abused boys whom he had coached. Referring to Hastert as a “serial child molester”, a federal judge imposed a sentence of 15 months in prison, two years’ supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Hastert was imprisoned in 2016 and was released 13 months later,” Wikipedia relates.
As the highest-ranking elected official in U.S. history to have served a prison sentence, Hastert is likely to see his title eclipsed if the nation ever manages to deliver to Trump the justice he truly deserves.
The replies to the president’s bitter tweet attacking Speaker Pelosi demonstrated that while Trump may have forgotten history, a lot of other people were ready to remind him of the Republican legacy of disgraced House Speakerships.
Pill-popping adulterer Newt Gingrich resigned as GOP House Speaker. Pedophile GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert went to jail. DEM House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been spanking you regularly since she took the gavel, including the 2018 Blue Tsunami. We think she's doing fine. — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) January 11, 2020
In 1999, Hastert replaced Newt Gingrich as Speaker, who resigned due to marital infidelities. Of course, Hastert wasn't the first choice to replace Gingrich. The first choice, Bob Livingston, was also forced to resign before taking the gavel, also due to marital infidelities. — Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) January 11, 2020
Trump will go down as the most authoritarian, corrupt, and incompetent president in U.S. history. Please add to this updated list (see graphic). #GDS pic.twitter.com/pY75bqLIKL — Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) January 11, 2020
Why are you people bringing up #DennisHastert. This is Trump making the claim. You know the guy who backed pedophile Roy Moore. And himself has been accused at least 17 times of sexual assault. To Trump, Hastert is one of the good guys. — jose lopez (@marauderjoe) January 11, 2020
.@GOP, come get your man. #DennisHastert raped boys and bribed them to stay quiet. #Newt was forced to step down. You might want to educate the #WhiteHouse. https://t.co/gtA0BBagPQ — (((Jenius Pam))) (@fradmin) January 11, 2020
In which @realDonaldTrump, the man who described Jeffrey Epstein as "a lot of fun to be with," tells us that a pedophile is NOT the "worst" thing a person can be. #DennisHastert https://t.co/jsvwyyAQnB — Clark Crimcops (@CCCriminalcops) January 11, 2020
All you guys responding to trump with #DennisHastert are assuming trump knows who that is? — 2+2=5 (@sandrajcooper) January 11, 2020
Hopefully, Donald Trump will read the replies to his tweets and get a history lesson.
Whether it will change his opinion of Speaker Pelosi is doubtful, but unless Trump is removed from office due to Pelosi’s impeachment efforts — either through a fair Senate trial or at the ballot box if Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell (R-KY) gets the sham acquittal he is seeking to engineer by failing to call witnesses — some Democrats may be lowering their estimation of Pelosi’s performance as well.
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Trump cuts off his biggest cheerleader in fury as Iran war vote causes GOP divide

It appears that there ’ s trouble in paradise for the President and his best pal , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) .
While the Florida Republican has spent the majority of the year shamelessly debasing himself in defense of the President and his efforts to fight impeachment , it turns out Trump ’ s self-inflicted Iran crisis was a dealbreaker for Gaetz .
In a stunning betrayal ( in Trump ’ s eyes , anyway ) , Gaetz voted in favor of Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s ( D-CA ) resolution under the War Powers Act to restrict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Iran .
His impassioned speech against Trump left House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) “ very shocked.
” But Matt Gaetz didn ’ t just do the right thing for a change .
The House Republican who self-identifies as “ Trump ’ s Ultimate Defender ” is best known for pushing the # pizzagate conspiracy theory , storming a SCIF to order pizza ( a theme ? )
and hanging out with the Proud Boys hate group when he ’ s not busy making an ass of himself in House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent an email to every member of the House Republican caucus urging them to thumb their noses at the President and his mindless rush to war .
Donald Trump , predictably , is absolutely furious .
Trump fiercely complained about Gaetz after aides informed Trump that his office had sent the email backing the resolution .
“ The Trump administration was disappointed in the congressman ’ s vote and is hopeful that as the president ’ s foreign policy continues to unfold , he will reconsider his points of view , ” Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the White House , said in an interview .
Not long ago , Donald Trump called Matt Gaetz “ handsome and going places ” at one of his rallies , but today he ’ s issuing sharp public disapprovals of him .
What did the President ’ s “ loyal apprentice ” write to all of his colleagues to earn the public ire of his most typically slavish kiss-ass admirer ?
The Post reports that this is the content of Gaetz ’ s email blast : Ironically , the Florida man took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Iran as an opportunity to go onto Fox News with white supremacist cheerleader Tucker Carlson—who is also against blundering around the Middle East with America ’ s armed forces — to praise the President as “ more anti-war than I am ” after he took the irrevocable step of killing one of that country ’ s highest-ranking government officials .
Disturbingly , this is a sound strategy to advise a President who is otherwise impervious to advise from the entire federal government .
The AP reports that Carlson ’ s anti-war fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the President and his thinking , meaning that the fate of world peace lies in the struggle between anti-war Carlson ( 8pm on FOX ) and pro-war Hannity ( 9pm on FOX ) .
Nevertheless , Donald Trump ’ s decision to commit an act of war against Iran from his Florida mansion and golf course , without consulting either Congress or allies , has led to the first public fissures in Republican unity that we have witnessed in a long time .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial !
Utah ’ s Republican Senator Mike Lee blasted the Trump Administration for giving the “ worst briefing ” he ’ s ever seen on military matters , proceeding to excoriate the President ’ s rush to war and insinuations that debating policy would be unpatriotic to such a degree that Fox News cut away to avoid triggering its audience of fragile conservative viewers .
Senator Susan Collins ( R-ME ) told the Bangor Daily News that she ’ s working to make a group of Republicans to force witnesses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial .
Now , Matt Gaetz is leading a break with the President which included another House Republican from Florida , Rep. Francis Rooney , who announced his retirement from Congress shortly after saying he might vote to impeach Trump ( he didn ’ t ) .
It all adds up to a major break from the cult-level allegiance typically demonstrated at all times from congressional Republicans to their orange concealer covered “ chosen one ” on nearly every other issue , except for impeachment , war , and peace .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Gaetz will undoubtedly be back in the president ’ s good graces faster than you can say “ sir , have you been drinking tonight ?
” Original reporting by Josh Dawsey at the Washington Post .
What do you think ?

It appears that there’s trouble in paradise for the President and his best pal, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). While the Florida Republican has spent the majority of the year shamelessly debasing himself in defense of the President and his efforts to fight impeachment, it turns out Trump’s self-inflicted Iran crisis was a dealbreaker for Gaetz.
In a stunning betrayal (in Trump’s eyes, anyway), Gaetz voted in favor of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) resolution under the War Powers Act to restrict Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran. His impassioned speech against Trump left House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) “very shocked.”
But Matt Gaetz didn’t just do the right thing for a change.
The House Republican who self-identifies as “Trump’s Ultimate Defender” is best known for pushing the #pizzagate conspiracy theory, storming a SCIF to order pizza (a theme?) and hanging out with the Proud Boys hate group when he’s not busy making an ass of himself in House Judiciary meetings. But on Friday he sent an email to every member of the House Republican caucus urging them to thumb their noses at the President and his mindless rush to war. Donald Trump, predictably, is absolutely furious.
The Washington Post reports:
Trump fiercely complained about Gaetz after aides informed Trump that his office had sent the email backing the resolution. “The Trump administration was disappointed in the congressman’s vote and is hopeful that as the president’s foreign policy continues to unfold, he will reconsider his points of view,” Eric Ueland, the head of legislative affairs for the White House, said in an interview.
A senior White House official said it was “super uncool” and “quite unwise” for Gaetz to push for limits on the president’s authority. This person added that White House officials would not be returning Gaetz’s phone calls, text messages, “smoke signals or his kneelings in the snow.”
Not long ago, Donald Trump called Matt Gaetz “handsome and going places” at one of his rallies, but today he’s issuing sharp public disapprovals of him.
What did the President’s “loyal apprentice” write to all of his colleagues to earn the public ire of his most typically slavish kiss-ass admirer? The Post reports that this is the content of Gaetz’s email blast:
“Reclaiming Congressional power is the Constitutional conservative position!” Devin Murphy, Gaetz’s legislative director, wrote to all Republican offices around 11 a.m. Thursday, underlining the text, according to the email obtained by The Washington Post. The message, arguing for Republicans to buck the president, ended: “We WILL be voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 83, and hope you will do the same!”
Ironically, the Florida man took his vote against Trump’s war with Iran as an opportunity to go onto Fox News with white supremacist cheerleader Tucker Carlson—who is also against blundering around the Middle East with America’s armed forces — to praise the President as “more anti-war than I am” after he took the irrevocable step of killing one of that country’s highest-ranking government officials.
Disturbingly, this is a sound strategy to advise a President who is otherwise impervious to advise from the entire federal government. The AP reports that Carlson’s anti-war fever is actually having a substantial tempering effect on the President and his thinking, meaning that the fate of world peace lies in the struggle between anti-war Carlson (8pm on FOX) and pro-war Hannity (9pm on FOX).
[Trump] told confidants in recent days that Carlson’s strong advocacy not to escalate the situation in Iran played a role in his decision-making, two White House officials and Republicans close to the West Wing told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Nevertheless, Donald Trump’s decision to commit an act of war against Iran from his Florida mansion and golf course, without consulting either Congress or allies, has led to the first public fissures in Republican unity that we have witnessed in a long time.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Utah’s Republican Senator Mike Lee blasted the Trump Administration for giving the “worst briefing” he’s ever seen on military matters, proceeding to excoriate the President’s rush to war and insinuations that debating policy would be unpatriotic to such a degree that Fox News cut away to avoid triggering its audience of fragile conservative viewers.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) told the Bangor Daily News that she’s working to make a group of Republicans to force witnesses to appear at President Trump’s forthcoming impeachment trial.
Now, Matt Gaetz is leading a break with the President which included another House Republican from Florida, Rep. Francis Rooney, who announced his retirement from Congress shortly after saying he might vote to impeach Trump (he didn’t).
It all adds up to a major break from the cult-level allegiance typically demonstrated at all times from congressional Republicans to their orange concealer covered “chosen one” on nearly every other issue, except for impeachment, war, and peace. But don’t expect it to last — Gaetz will undoubtedly be back in the president’s good graces faster than you can say “sir, have you been drinking tonight?”
Original reporting by Josh Dawsey at the Washington Post.


occupydemocrats--2020-01-11--Trump thinks he deserves higher poll numbers because of “Trump Thing”

Donald Trump ’ s latest tweet seems so similar to many of his other lie-filled social media posts about his poll numbers .
Yet , this time , in addition to inflating his popularity within his own party to record levels that simply aren ’ t true — the real number according to the most recent YouGov/Economist poll is closer to 88 percent and his overall popularity hasn ’ t exceeded even 45 percent since the first week of his presidency in FiveThirtyEight.com ’ s aggregation of all polls — Trump is providing an excuse for his obvious exaggeration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admission of his own dishonesty about his job performance assessments .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Firstly , to answer the president ’ s question , no , he can not add 7 to 10 percent because of the Trump “ thing.
” Secondly , whatever Trump may think his “ thing ” is — charisma , privilege , power , money , connections , a mastery of the art of the con — a larger proportion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing ” differently than he does .
What the recent polls do show is that a majority of the public now believes that Trump should be removed from office , seeing his “ thing ” as unconstitutional actions , deception , obstruction , cruelty , hypocrisy , idiocy , incompetence , insanity , war crimes , and a list of other deplorable traits to numerous to detail in their entirety .
For this majority , knowing that this president is a compulsive fabulist , they can generally take any figure that Trump pulls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut it in half to get a number that may perhaps be somewhat closer to reality than anything that he purports .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump’s latest tweet seems so similar to many of his other lie-filled social media posts about his poll numbers.
95% Approval Rating in the Republican Party, a record. 53% Approval Rating overall (can we add 7 to 10 percent because of the Trump “thing?”). Thank you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020
Yet, this time, in addition to inflating his popularity within his own party to record levels that simply aren’t true — the real number according to the most recent YouGov/Economist poll is closer to 88 percent and his overall popularity hasn’t exceeded even 45 percent since the first week of his presidency in FiveThirtyEight.com’s aggregation of all polls — Trump is providing an excuse for his obvious exaggeration of his poll numbers in a rare winking admission of his own dishonesty about his job performance assessments.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Firstly, to answer the president’s question, no, he cannot add 7 to 10 percent because of the Trump “thing.”
Secondly, whatever Trump may think his “thing” is — charisma, privilege, power, money, connections, a mastery of the art of the con — a larger proportion of the American and international public see his “thing” differently than he does.
What the recent polls do show is that a majority of the public now believes that Trump should be removed from office, seeing his “thing” as unconstitutional actions, deception, obstruction, cruelty, hypocrisy, idiocy, incompetence, insanity, war crimes, and a list of other deplorable traits too numerous to detail in their entirety.
For this majority, knowing that this president is a compulsive fabulist, they can generally take any figure that Trump pulls out of his ample rear end and cut it in half to get a number that may perhaps be somewhat closer to reality than anything that he purports.
The Trump “thing” merits subtraction, not addition.
You’re welcome!
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-12--Lawyer for Giuliani crony tells judge he has essential impeachment evidence

As Democrats and Republicans wrangle over the rules for the impending impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump , the attorney for one of the president ’ s lawyer ’ s indicted henchmen — Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas — is desperately trying to get permission from a federal judge to submit his client ’ s evidence to the House Intelligence Committee to add to the already formidable case against the president .
Attorney Joseph Bondy wrote a letter to the judge overseeing the trial of Parnas and his partner Igor Fruman to ask Judge J. Paul Oetken to modify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected as part of Parnas ’ prosecution to allow it to be shared with the committee .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Bondy is asking that the data from three separate mobile devices — owned by Parnas and seized by investigators — be turned over to the House Intelligence Committee to verify the value of his client ’ s testimony in the investigation of Trump ’ s scheme to extort Ukraine into cooperating with Trump ’ s request to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden , the very scheme that led to the president ’ s impeachment woes .
Bondy stated in his letter that the prosecutors in Parnas ’ case do not object to the sharing of the evidence contained on the indicted Giuliani cohort ’ s phones .
The attorney also posted the letter on social media using the hashtags “ Lev Remembers ” and “ Let Lev Speak ” in order to drum up public attention to his client ’ s desire to reveal what he knows about the Trump administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aims through a secret rogue group of unelected , unconfirmed operatives that included the president ’ s own attorney , Rudy Giuliani .
With the calling of witnesses for Trump ’ s Senate trial still in doubt , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the option of reopening the impeachment hearings to get testimony from those witnesses who have yet to appear before the committee , including Parnas , the newly willing to testify John Bolton , and those Office of Management and Budget staffers whose emails expressed concern about the legality of withholding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testimony can only increase the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) and other Senate Republicans to drop their plans for a sham trial devoid of witnesses designed to exonerate Trump without ever hearing from administration staff with direct knowledge of the illicit actions .
Let ’ s hope that the judge sees fit to let the caged bird sing .
What do you think ?

As Democrats and Republicans wrangle over the rules for the impending impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump, the attorney for one of the president’s lawyer’s indicted henchmen — Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas — is desperately trying to get permission from a federal judge to submit his client’s evidence to the House Intelligence Committee to add to the already formidable case against the president.
Attorney Joseph Bondy wrote a letter to the judge overseeing the trial of Parnas and his partner Igor Fruman to ask Judge J. Paul Oetken to modify the protective order currently applicable to the evidence collected as part of Parnas’ prosecution to allow it to be shared with the committee.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Bondy is asking that the data from three separate mobile devices — owned by Parnas and seized by investigators — be turned over to the House Intelligence Committee to verify the value of his client’s testimony in the investigation of Trump’s scheme to extort Ukraine into cooperating with Trump’s request to investigate his political rival former Vice President Joe Biden, the very scheme that led to the president’s impeachment woes.
“Review of these materials is essential to the Committee’s ability to corroborate the strength of Mr. Parnas’s potential testimony,” according to Bondy.
Bondy stated in his letter that the prosecutors in Parnas’ case do not object to the sharing of the evidence contained on the indicted Giuliani cohort’s phones.
The attorney also posted the letter on social media using the hashtags “Lev Remembers” and “Let Lev Speak” in order to drum up public attention to his client’s desire to reveal what he knows about the Trump administration’s extra-diplomatic channel for achieving his domestic political aims through a secret rogue group of unelected, unconfirmed operatives that included the president’s own attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
We’ve just asked the Court’s permission to give additional materials, extracted from three more of Lev Parnas’ electronic devices, to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence #HPSCI for use in the impeachment inquiry. #LetLevSpeak #LevRemembers pic.twitter.com/LUXkkaHy1p — Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 11, 2020
With the calling of witnesses for Trump’s Senate trial still in doubt, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the option of reopening the impeachment hearings to get testimony from those witnesses who have yet to appear before the committee, including Parnas, the newly willing to testify John Bolton, and those Pentagon staffers whose emails expressed concern about the legality of withholding military aid to Ukraine.
Any additional testimony can only increase the pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other Senate Republicans to drop their plans for a sham trial devoid of witnesses designed to exonerate Trump without ever hearing from administration staff with direct knowledge of the illicit actions.
Let’s hope that the judge sees fit to let the caged bird sing.
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Original reporting by Bob Brigham at RawStory.
Correction: This story originally attributed the emails expressing concerns about the legality of withholding military aid to Ukraine to staffers in the Office of Management and Budget. It has been corrected to properly reflect the fact that it was Department of Defense staffers who raised the concerns. Thanks to Nancy Krempa for pointing out the error.
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-12--“When he calls someone crazy, he knows that he is”: Pelosi hits back at Trump after derisive tweets

Donald Trump took another few swipes at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) on Twitter this morning , calling her “ Crazy Nancy ” in one tweet and labeling her “ Nervous Nancy ” in another .
The Speaker managed to hit back at the president when she did appear with George Stephanopolous on ABC ’ s This Week with an acidic reply to his increasingly desperate attacks on her as the architect of Trump ’ s impeachment .
“ Let me just say , it ’ s Sunday morning , I ’ d like to talk about some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this president of the United States , but he has to know that every knock from him is a boost , ” Pelosi said , throwing the ball back to the president ’ s court .
The leader of the House Democrats also responded to Trump ’ s assertion , made on Fox News on Friday , that Pelosi is “ obsessed with impeachment.
” McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Saying that Trump had previously condemned her for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ W. Bush over the Iraq war , she reiterated her opinion that although Donald Trump wasn ’ t worth impeachment , his behavior so flagrantly violated constitutional norms that it “ could not be ignored.
” Pelosi also made note of the reason behind her earlier comments that every time Trump attacks her it ’ s actually a “ boost ” by pointing out the president ’ s penchant for projection , attributing to others that of which he himself is most guilty .
“ So again , I don ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazy tweets , because everything he says is a projection , ” the Speaker explained .
“ When he calls someone crazy he knows that he is .
Everything he says you can just translate it back to who he is.
” “ Let ’ s be optimistic about the future , a future that will not have Donald Trump in the White House one way or another , ” she sunnily predicted .
With Pelosi having said that she will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate this week , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) over the rules of Trump ’ s trial and whether witnesses will be allowed , we can expect the back and forth parrying between the president and the most powerful woman in the country to intensify in the days ahead .
You can watch an excerpt from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s appearance on ABC ’ s This Week in the video clip below .
Original reporting by Justine Coleman at The Hill .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump took another few swipes at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Twitter this morning, calling her “Crazy Nancy” in one tweet and labeling her “Nervous Nancy” in another.
George @GStephanopoulos, ask Crazy Nancy why she allowed Adam “Shifty” Schiff to totally make up my conversation with the Ukrainian President & read his false words to Congress and the world, as though I said it? He got caught! Ask why hearing was most unfair & biased in history? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020
Why did Nervous Nancy allow corrupt politician Shifty Schiff to lie before Congress? He must be a Witness, and so should she! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020
The Speaker managed to hit back at the president when she did appear with George Stephanopolous on ABC’s This Week with an acidic reply to his increasingly desperate attacks on her as the architect of Trump’s impeachment.
“Let me just say, it’s Sunday morning, I’d like to talk about some more pleasant subjects than the erratic nature of this president of the United States, but he has to know that every knock from him is a boost,” Pelosi said, throwing the ball back to the president’s court.
The leader of the House Democrats also responded to Trump’s assertion, made on Fox News on Friday, that Pelosi is “obsessed with impeachment.”
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Saying that Trump had previously condemned her for not overseeing the impeachment of President George W. Bush over the Iraq war, she reiterated her opinion that although Donald Trump wasn’t worth impeachment, his behavior so flagrantly violated constitutional norms that it “could not be ignored.”
Pelosi also made note of the reason behind her earlier comments that every time Trump attacks her it’s actually a “boost” by pointing out the president’s penchant for projection, attributing to others that of which he himself is most guilty.
“So again, I don’t like to spend too much time on his crazy tweets, because everything he says is a projection,” the Speaker explained. “When he calls someone crazy he knows that he is. Everything he says you can just translate it back to who he is.” “Let’s be optimistic about the future, a future that will not have Donald Trump in the White House one way or another,” she sunnily predicted.
Touche´, Madame Speaker, touche´.
With Pelosi having said that she will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate this week, despite the lack of agreement with that chamber’s Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) over the rules of Trump’s trial and whether witnesses will be allowed, we can expect the back and forth parrying between the president and the most powerful woman in the country to intensify in the days ahead.
You can watch an excerpt from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s appearance on ABC’s This Week in the video clip below.
JUST IN: Speaker Nancy Pelosi responds to Trump's tweets, telling @GStephanopoulos, "I don't like to spend too much time on his crazy tweets because everything he says is a projection. When he calls somebody crazy, he knows that he is." https://t.co/G6Ef3GUsED pic.twitter.com/8cWuCN8N8P — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2020
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Original reporting by Justine Coleman at The Hill.
Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-12--Defense Sec. refuses to provide evidence for Trump’s claims of 4 embassies threatened by Iran

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper inadvertently provided fodder to those who believe that Donald Trump ’ s mental deterioration requires the invocation of the 25th Amendment this morning during his appearance on CNN ‘ s State of the Union .
Speaking with host Jake Tapper who pressed Esper on the intelligence behind the president ’ s claims that his orders to assassinate Iranian General Qassim Suleimani were motivated by supposedly “ imminent ” attacks on four U.S. embassies including one in Baghdad , the Defense chief danced around the actual intelligence received by the White House .
While Esper seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there was an intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad ” — pointedly omitting any reference to the actual intelligence regarding the timing and imminence of such plans — he shifted to remarkably squirrely language when it came to discussing Trump ’ s claims that four embassies were facing definitively impending danger .
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump .
Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial !
Prefacing his remarks with a careful reassurance to the president that what Trump said is what he believes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the intelligence reports actually said to what the president “ believes.
” Jake Tapper noted Esper ’ s evasion of the question about any direct evidence of the president ’ s claims of the “ imminence ” of attacks on four U.S. embassies contained in the intelligence reports received by the White House and pressed the Defense Secretary on the point , asking about specific intel reports regarding threats to the four diplomatic facilities .
Esper flat out refused to answer that question , saying : Tapper continued to press Esper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same as evidence .
Esper cited the intelligence community ’ s evidence of the supposedly planned attack on the Baghdad embassy , but when Tapper asked about the evidence of Trump ’ s claims that four embassies were being targeted , he immediately reverted to saying that he would not discuss intelligence — except of course in his previous sentence .
The subsequent sentence of his reply offers the best indication that no such intelligence actually exists to bolster the president ’ s statements regarding the imminence and multiple locations of the threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounted to a subtle throwing of Trump under the bus .
The refusal to discuss the actual intelligence available to back up Trump ’ s beliefs — which have in the past been proven to include such demonstrably false assertions as Barack Obama was born in Kenya and that windmills cause cancer — is particularly incriminating given that the only thing that would prevent the legitimate prosecution of the president on war crimes charges for his assassination of Suleimani would be the existence of a truly imminent attack by Iran or its proxies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault .
With The Wall Street Journal reporting that Trump reportedly told associates that “ he was under pressure to deal with Gen. Soleimani from GOP senators he views as important supporters in his coming impeachment trial in the Senate , ” the administration ’ s claims about any intelligence supporting the imminence of the attacks that would exonerate Trump of a war crime is highly suspect .
Esper ’ s refusal to discuss the intelligence behind Trump ’ s claims of four embassies being in imminent danger leads skeptics to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And why should the “ beliefs ” of a demonstrable liar — or self-preserving delusions as some may label them — be worth more than those skeptics who demand proof of his likely bogus excuses ?
The question raised by Esper ’ s evasiveness is why should America tolerate the continuance of a mentally deluded individual in the office of the presidency .
If impeachment seems too harsh for Senate Republicans worried about the blowback from Trump supporters on their own reelections , the invocation of the 25th Amendment could be the easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current predicament .
You can see a clip of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper ’ s appearance on CNN ‘ s State of the Union in the video below .
What do you think ?

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper inadvertently provided fodder to those who believe that Donald Trump’s mental deterioration requires the invocation of the 25th Amendment this morning during his appearance on CNN‘s State of the Union.
Speaking with host Jake Tapper who pressed Esper on the intelligence behind the president’s claims that his orders to assassinate Iranian General Qassim Suleimani were motivated by supposedly “imminent” attacks on four U.S. embassies including one in Baghdad, the Defense chief danced around the actual intelligence received by the White House.
While Esper seemed comfortable revealing that “there was intelligence that there was an intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad” — pointedly omitting any reference to the actual intelligence regarding the timing and imminence of such plans — he shifted to remarkably squirrely language when it came to discussing Trump’s claims that four embassies were facing definitively impending danger.
McConnell admitted coordinating impeachment with Trump. Add your name to demand he recuse himself from the trial!
Prefacing his remarks with a careful reassurance to the president that what Trump said is what he believes as well, Esper moved the discussion from what the intelligence reports actually said to what the president “believes.”
“He said that he believed that they probably, that they could have been targeting the embassies in their region. I believe that as well, as did other national security team members,” the Defense Secretary said. (Emphasis added for clarity.)
Jake Tapper noted Esper’s evasion of the question about any direct evidence of the president’s claims of the “imminence” of attacks on four U.S. embassies contained in the intelligence reports received by the White House and pressed the Defense Secretary on the point, asking about specific intel reports regarding threats to the four diplomatic facilities.
Esper flat out refused to answer that question, saying:
“I’m not going to discuss intelligence matters here on the show,” the Secretary of Defense said, despite having just done so a minute earlier.
Tapper continued to press Esper, pointing out that belief is not the same as evidence.
Esper cited the intelligence community’s evidence of the supposedly planned attack on the Baghdad embassy, but when Tapper asked about the evidence of Trump’s claims that four embassies were being targeted, he immediately reverted to saying that he would not discuss intelligence — except of course in his previous sentence.
The subsequent sentence of his reply offers the best indication that no such intelligence actually exists to bolster the president’s statements regarding the imminence and multiple locations of the threat posed by Suleimani and Iran, and amounted to a subtle throwing of Trump under the bus.
“What the president said was that he believed that he probably could have been. He didn’t cite intelligence,” Esper made clear.
Later, on CBS Face the Nation, Esper went a step further when asked if he’d seen the evidence of a threat as Trump described. “I didn’t see one,” Esper replied flatly contradicting the president’s justification for bringing the U.S. to the brink of war.
Defense Secretary Epser: "I didn't see" specific evidence that showed Iran planned to strike four U.S. embassies. pic.twitter.com/4j2GgIIirL — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 12, 2020
The refusal to discuss the actual intelligence available to back up Trump’s beliefs — which have in the past been proven to include such demonstrably false assertions as Barack Obama was born in Kenya and that windmills cause cancer — is particularly incriminating given that the only thing that would prevent the legitimate prosecution of the president on war crimes charges for his assassination of Suleimani would be the existence of a truly imminent attack by Iran or its proxies, not vague plans for a future assault.
With The Wall Street Journal reporting that Trump reportedly told associates that “he was under pressure to deal with Gen. Soleimani from GOP senators he views as important supporters in his coming impeachment trial in the Senate,” the administration’s claims about any intelligence supporting the imminence of the attacks that would exonerate Trump of a war crime is highly suspect.
Esper’s refusal to discuss the intelligence behind Trump’s claims of four embassies being in imminent danger leads skeptics to believe that it simply doesn’t exist. And why should the “beliefs” of a demonstrable liar — or self-preserving delusions as some may label them — be worth more than those skeptics who demand proof of his likely bogus excuses?
The question raised by Esper’s evasiveness is why should America tolerate the continuance of a mentally deluded individual in the office of the presidency. If impeachment seems too harsh for Senate Republicans worried about the blowback from Trump supporters on their own reelections, the invocation of the 25th Amendment could be the easily justified way out of America’s current predicament.
You can see a clip of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s appearance on CNN‘s State of the Union in the video below.
On CNN, Mark Esper makes it absolutely clear that the Trump administration is making it up as they go when they claim Soleimani posed an imminent threat to 4 different US embassies pic.twitter.com/Cm16XkOrlo — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 12, 2020
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Vinnie Longobardo Managing Editor Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art. Latest Posts