occupydemocrats--2020-01-27--Sen. Duckworth brutally mocks Trump for draft-dodging after Ken Starr compares trial to war

Donald Trump is finally learning the consequences of being such a deadbeat client that few reputable legal firms are now willing to risk their reputations and balance sheets by representing him in his impeachment trial .
With his team of those few attorneys still willing to be associated with the president now appearing before the Senate mounting a defense that has been called “ constitutional nonsense ” by legal scholars and described as having “ inadvertently helped Democrats make the case for calling new witnesses , ” the poor performance of his defense team has some Twitter wags wondering whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an appeal based on ineffectiveness of counsel .
With a team that includes White House Counsel Pat Cipollone , whose opening statements have left him open to charges of perjury ; Alan Dershowitz , whose client roster has included such notorious figures as Jeffrey Epstein , Harvey Weinstein , and OJ Simpson ; Jay Sekulow , who ’ s strongest defense point seems to be that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi handed out souvenir pens after signing the articles of impeachment ; and Ken Starr , the former special prosecutor on the Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disavow his previous statements on the nature of an impeachable offense to argue Trump ’ s position , the president is fortunate that his trial is taking place before a jury stacked with his fellow partisan Republicans .
As the president ’ s defense attorneys began their second day of presentation in the impeachment trial , Starr managed to raise the ire of Democratic Senator and disabled war hero veteran of the Iraq war Tammy Duckworth ( D-IL ) with an ill-considered tangent in which he compared the tribulations that a president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial with the horrors of war .
Senator Duckworth retweeted a video clip of the defense attorney declaring to the assembled Senators and the TV viewing audience that “ Like war , impeachment is hell .
Or at least , presidential impeachment is hell ” with a pertinent rebuke to both Starr — who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War with a 4-F classification due to his suffering from psoriasis — and the man she likes to refer derisively to as Cadet Bone Spurs .
The Senator , who lost both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was piloting was shot down by Iraqi insurgents , a mission for which she received a Purple Heart , has every right to be incensed by the hyperbolic comparison that Starr made without the benefit of any direct experience with even basic training , much less combat .
Given the lack of any substantive response to the overwhelming evidence of the president ’ s guilt presented by the Democratic House impeachment managers , Trump ’ s defense team is floundering and filling their time by simply regurgitating the president ’ s own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into more conventional legalese .
The upgrade in the vocabulary used , unfortunately for the president , doesn ’ t make the legal arguments any more effective .
His defense team ’ s poor performance may be inspiring regrets in Trump ’ s mind that he wasn ’ t less of a nightmare client for numerous law firms whose assistance he could find useful in his current situation .
Given the ever-expanding body of evidence indicating the truth of the charges against the president , it ’ s doubtful that the most skilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his innocence .
Luckily for Trump , the packed jury is unlikely to need even a semi-competent attorney to acquit the president strictly on the basis of partisan affiliation .
Luckily for Trump .
A tragedy for our democracy and the Constitutional order .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump is finally learning the consequences of being such a deadbeat client that few reputable legal firms are now willing to risk their reputations and balance sheets by representing him in his impeachment trial.
With his team of those few attorneys still willing to be associated with the president now appearing before the Senate mounting a defense that has been called “constitutional nonsense” by legal scholars and described as having “inadvertently helped Democrats make the case for calling new witnesses,” the poor performance of his defense team has some Twitter wags wondering whether Trump’s strategy is to rely on an appeal based on ineffectiveness of counsel.
Is it possible the president is angling for post conviction relief based on ineffectiveness of counsel? — Hasani Gittens (@hgitty) November 21, 2018
With a team that includes White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, whose opening statements have left him open to charges of perjury; Alan Dershowitz, whose client roster has included such notorious figures as Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and OJ Simpson; Jay Sekulow, who’s strongest defense point seems to be that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi handed out souvenir pens after signing the articles of impeachment; and Ken Starr, the former special prosecutor on the Bill Clinton impeachment, who has had to disavow his previous statements on the nature of an impeachable offense to argue Trump’s position, the president is fortunate that his trial is taking place before a jury stacked with his fellow partisan Republicans.
As the president’s defense attorneys began their second day of presentation in the impeachment trial, Starr managed to raise the ire of Democratic Senator and disabled war hero veteran of the Iraq war Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) with an ill-considered tangent in which he compared the tribulations that a president and members of the Senate endure during an impeachment trial with the horrors of war.
Senator Duckworth retweeted a video clip of the defense attorney declaring to the assembled Senators and the TV viewing audience that “Like war, impeachment is hell. Or at least, presidential impeachment is hell” with a pertinent rebuke to both Starr — who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War with a 4-F classification due to his suffering from psoriasis — and the man she likes to refer derisively to as Cadet Bone Spurs.
Spoken like someone who’s never been to war. Just like his boss. https://t.co/6jxr8rwe1V — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 27, 2020
The Senator, who lost both her legs when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was shot down by Iraqi insurgents, a mission for which she received a Purple Heart, has every right to be incensed by the hyperbolic comparison that Starr made without the benefit of any direct experience with even basic training, much less combat.
Given the lack of any substantive response to the overwhelming evidence of the president’s guilt presented by the Democratic House impeachment managers, Trump’s defense team is floundering and filling their time by simply regurgitating the president’s own logically and legally insufficient tweeted excuses translated into more conventional legalese.
The upgrade in the vocabulary used, unfortunately for the president, doesn’t make the legal arguments any more effective.
His defense team’s poor performance may be inspiring regrets in Trump’s mind that he wasn’t less of a nightmare client for numerous law firms whose assistance he could find useful in his current situation. Given the ever-expanding body of evidence indicating the truth of the charges against the president, it’s doubtful that the most skilled barrister in the world could successfully argue his innocence.
Luckily for Trump, the packed jury is unlikely to need even a semi-competent attorney to acquit the president strictly on the basis of partisan affiliation. Luckily for Trump. A tragedy for our democracy and the Constitutional order.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-01-27--Trump’s lawyer embarrasses himself with Senate tirade about Democrats handing out “pens”

The insulting and infuriatingly lazy efforts by the President ’ s defenders to wave away the ever-growing pile of evidence against him continued unabated on Monday with lawyer Jay Sekulow making the argument that the handing out of impeachment pens by House Democrats somehow exonerates the president .
While Sekulow claims to value the history and the solemnity of “ this great body , ” he makes a mockery of it all by complaining that the “ pens ” used to sign the articles of impeachment were used as part of a “ celebratory moment ” that we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trying to argue that because the House leaders relished the idea of impeaching a criminal president who has disgraced our nation before the world and trampled every value we ostensibly stand for , the impeachment trial is “ partisan ” and therefore unfair and illegitimate .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Of course , the astonishingly brazen refusal of the Republicans to not even pretend to be taking this trial seriously at all or to consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far , far , worse than any petty moment of glee the Democrats shared amongst themselves .
The Washington Post ‘ s resident satirist perfectly summarized the GOP ’ s approach to the impeachment trial and the endless carousel of bad-faith arguments and excuses and really hammers home why nothing they say or do should be taken seriously .
And of course , they ’ re hypocrites too , since GOP Senators got pens in 1999 when they were impeaching President Clinton : What do you think ?

The insulting and infuriatingly lazy efforts by the President’s defenders to wave away the ever-growing pile of evidence against him continued unabated on Monday with lawyer Jay Sekulow making the argument that the handing out of impeachment pens by House Democrats somehow exonerates the president.
While Sekulow claims to value the history and the solemnity of “this great body,” he makes a mockery of it all by complaining that the “pens” used to sign the articles of impeachment were used as part of a “celebratory moment” that we need to think about.
Pens.
For those watching at home, we've now arrived at "Trump should be exonerated because Democrats handed out pens used to sign his articles of impeachment" as the White House's defense. pic.twitter.com/f5LIs2WvZV — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 27, 2020
It appears that he’s trying to argue that because the House leaders relished the idea of impeaching a criminal president who has disgraced our nation before the world and trampled every value we ostensibly stand for, the impeachment trial is “partisan” and therefore unfair and illegitimate.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Of course, the astonishingly brazen refusal of the Republicans to not even pretend to be taking this trial seriously at all or to consider the evidence in any kind of honest fashion is far, far, worse than any petty moment of glee the Democrats shared amongst themselves.
The Washington Post‘s resident satirist perfectly summarized the GOP’s approach to the impeachment trial and the endless carousel of bad-faith arguments and excuses and really hammers home why nothing they say or do should be taken seriously.
so if i am understanding correctly, a fair process should happen neither in public nor behind closed doors, not with witnesses nor without witnesses, quickly but in due time, neither by day nor by night — Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) January 27, 2020
And of course, they’re hypocrites too, since GOP Senators got pens in 1999 when they were impeaching President Clinton:
Not the same thing as the House ceremony this month but FWIW in 1999 Senators got special commemorative pens as they signed the oath book for Clinton impeachment — about 3:45 into this https://t.co/UDEY9szZm9 — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 27, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-27--“Get your facts straight!” Chris Wallace unloads on co-host after she tries to sell pro-Trump spin

As the impeachment of Donald Trump unfolds it ’ s becoming harder and harder for his media flacks to offer credible defenses of the president ’ s actions .
There is now no convincing way to deny that he tried to exploit the powers of the Executive Branch to hurt Joe Biden ’ s 2020 chances by pushing Ukraine to open a sham investigation into the former vice president and his son .
According to former National Security Advisor John Bolton , Trump froze almost $ 400 million in aid to Ukraine with the explicit intent of using it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to target Democrats for investigation .
One struggles to imagine a more impeachable offense .
Fox News is of course engaged in their usual propaganda efforts and wants to paint the impeachment trial as a political stunt by Democrats rather than what it is : the only reasonable recourse for dealing with such a gleefully lawless president .
In order to placate their delusional MAGA audience , most of the Fox pundit stable refuse to talk honestly about Trump and his abuses .
Chris Wallace has proven to be the rare exception unafraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has not been coy about criticizing this administration in the past .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Earlier today , Wallace was discussing the impeachment on Fox and ended up getting into a dustup with right-wing pundit Katie Pavlich after she misrepresented the facts of the case .
Pavlich claimed that the House did not conduct itself well during the impeachment inquiry and that a more thorough case should have been presented to the Senate .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House did not come with a complete case , and every impeachment beforehand , the witnesses that were called had been called in the House before being brought to the Senate .
So there are questions here about the process , ” said Pavlich .
“ That ’ s not true , that ’ s not true , ” Wallace jumped in.
“ They hadn ’ t all been called in the House , and in the Clinton impeachment , they ’ d been called by the general independent counsel .
They had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he went on .
Pavlich responded that an “ extensive Justice Department investigation ” was responsible for that fact and while Wallace agreed , he insisted that she was “ just wrong ” in her claim that impeachment witnesses were only called by the House in the past .
“ Let me finish .
Before the articles were sent to the House , the grand jury material in the Clinton impeachment were handed to the House as part of the articles and given to the Senate .
They were not given after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is the difference .
The process does matter , ” Pavlich responded .
“ The fact of the matter was is that the whistleblower information was given to the inspector general , who gave it to the Justice Department .
The Justice Department decided not to investigate , and that is why it went to the House , ” explained Wallace with growing , visible annoyance “ So to say that in the Clinton investigation that these people were interviewed by the House , one , they weren ’ t and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department , because the Justice Department refused to carry out the investigation .
Get your facts straight !
” he demanded .
“ Okay .
Okay .
Let ’ s tone it down , ” said Bret Baier , clearly surprised by Wallace ’ s tone .
The interactions remained civil from there out , but it was refreshing to see a pro-Trump shill called out for her dishonesty in real-time .
What do you think ?

As the impeachment of Donald Trump unfolds it’s becoming harder and harder for his media flacks to offer credible defenses of the president’s actions.
There is now no convincing way to deny that he tried to exploit the powers of the Executive Branch to hurt Joe Biden’s 2020 chances by pushing Ukraine to open a sham investigation into the former vice president and his son. According to former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Trump froze almost $400 million in aid to Ukraine with the explicit intent of using it as leverage to force the Eastern European country to target Democrats for investigation. One struggles to imagine a more impeachable offense.
Fox News is of course engaged in their usual propaganda efforts and wants to paint the impeachment trial as a political stunt by Democrats rather than what it is: the only reasonable recourse for dealing with such a gleefully lawless president. In order to placate their delusional MAGA audience, most of the Fox pundit stable refuse to talk honestly about Trump and his abuses. Chris Wallace has proven to be the rare exception unafraid to buck those marching orders, and he has not been coy about criticizing this administration in the past.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Earlier today, Wallace was discussing the impeachment on Fox and ended up getting into a dustup with right-wing pundit Katie Pavlich after she misrepresented the facts of the case. Pavlich claimed that the House did not conduct itself well during the impeachment inquiry and that a more thorough case should have been presented to the Senate.
“The Senate is not the House, the House did not come with a complete case, and every impeachment beforehand, the witnesses that were called had been called in the House before being brought to the Senate. So there are questions here about the process,” said Pavlich.
“That’s not true, that’s not true,” Wallace jumped in.“They hadn’t all been called in the House, and in the Clinton impeachment, they’d been called by the general independent counsel. They had not been called by the House,” he went on. Pavlich responded that an “extensive Justice Department investigation” was responsible for that fact and while Wallace agreed, he insisted that she was “just wrong” in her claim that impeachment witnesses were only called by the House in the past.
“Let me finish. Before the articles were sent to the House, the grand jury material in the Clinton impeachment were handed to the House as part of the articles and given to the Senate. They were not given after the House voted for those articles. That is the difference. The process does matter,” Pavlich responded.
“The fact of the matter was is that the whistleblower information was given to the inspector general, who gave it to the Justice Department. The Justice Department decided not to investigate, and that is why it went to the House,” explained Wallace with growing, visible annoyance “So to say that in the Clinton investigation that these people were interviewed by the House, one, they weren’t and to say it wasn’t done by the Justice Department, because the Justice Department refused to carry out the investigation. Get your facts straight!” he demanded.
“Okay. Okay. Let’s tone it down,” said Bret Baier, clearly surprised by Wallace’s tone. The interactions remained civil from there out, but it was refreshing to see a pro-Trump shill called out for her dishonesty in real-time.
Watch the confrontation below.
https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1221859221299482625?s=20
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-27--“Stop being such a baby!” Fox News host publicly trashes Mike Pompeo over his NPR tantrum

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ’ s vicious public attack on NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly after she had the temerity to question him regarding his actions in the Ukraine scandal has turned even one of his usually reliable allies at Fox News against him .
After Pompeo issued an official State Department press release calling the veteran Harvard and Cambridge educated radio correspondent a liar on Saturday after she detailed the account of Pompeo lambasting her after the interview with a profanity-laden temper tantrum despite the fact that Kelly had informed the secretary ’ s staff in advance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Steve Hilton , the host of the Sunday night Fox News program The Next Revolution , found the Secretary of State ’ s behavior too much to tolerate , siding with his fellow journalist rather than the Trump administration in this rare instance .
“ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got into an ugly dust up with an NPR reporter this week and I ’ ve got something I want to get off my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make clear I ’ m a big fan of the secretary .
I appreciate his tough stand on many issues , not least China.
” Hilton told his viewers last night .
The Fox News reporter is apparently a regular NPR listener and considers Kelly an unbiased source as he related to his audience .
Hilton then proceded to ridicule Pompeo for his infantile reaction to what any politician worth their salt would consider just a part of the rough and tumble world of media relations when you ’ re sitting in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility to justify your actions to the public for whom you supposedly act on behalf .
“ For goodness sake , Mr. Secretary , don ’ t be such a baby .
You should be able to handle tough questions by now , and don ’ t be such a bully .
Foul-mouth ranting at a reporter doing her job is an embarrassment to you and the administration , ” Hilton reminded the Secretary of State .
“ You should apologize and people will think much more of you if you do.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice of Hilton who was once a strategy director for former British Prime Minister David Cameron and presumably knows a thing or two about public relations .
Expecting rational and reasonable behavior from politicians who find themselves in situations where they instinctually react like a cornered rat may be more of a hopeful presumption than a realistic supposition , particularly when the removal of the president from office is concerned and your own job and reputation are hanging by a thread .
You can watch the rare sight of a Fox News host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the video excerpt of Steve Hilton on The Next Revolution below .
Original reporting by Joe Concha at The Hill .
What do you think ?

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s vicious public attack on NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly after she had the temerity to question him regarding his actions in the Ukraine scandal has turned even one of his usually reliable allies at Fox News against him.
After Pompeo issued an official State Department press release calling the veteran Harvard and Cambridge educated radio correspondent a liar on Saturday after she detailed the account of Pompeo lambasting her after the interview with a profanity-laden temper tantrum despite the fact that Kelly had informed the secretary’s staff in advance of the topics she would be covering.
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly says the following happened after the interview in which she asked some tough questions to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. pic.twitter.com/cRTb71fZvX — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 24, 2020
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Steve Hilton, the host of the Sunday night Fox News program The Next Revolution, found the Secretary of State’s behavior too much to tolerate, siding with his fellow journalist rather than the Trump administration in this rare instance.
“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got into an ugly dust up with an NPR reporter this week and I’ve got something I want to get off my chest. First, I want to make clear I’m a big fan of the secretary. I appreciate his tough stand on many issues, not least China.” Hilton told his viewers last night.
The Fox News reporter is apparently a regular NPR listener and considers Kelly an unbiased source as he related to his audience.
“I listen to NPR a lot and I can tell you that Mary Louise Kelly is one of the very few hosts on there who actually seems fair and is not totally biased against President Trump,” Hilton said.
Hilton then proceded to ridicule Pompeo for his infantile reaction to what any politician worth their salt would consider just a part of the rough and tumble world of media relations when you’re sitting in a position of such governmental power with a responsibility to justify your actions to the public for whom you supposedly act on behalf.
“For goodness sake, Mr. Secretary, don’t be such a baby. You should be able to handle tough questions by now, and don’t be such a bully. Foul-mouth ranting at a reporter doing her job is an embarrassment to you and the administration,” Hilton reminded the Secretary of State. “You should apologize and people will think much more of you if you do.”
Pompeo would do well to heed the advice of Hilton who was once a strategy director for former British Prime Minister David Cameron and presumably knows a thing or two about public relations.
Expecting rational and reasonable behavior from politicians who find themselves in situations where they instinctually react like a cornered rat may be more of a hopeful presumption than a realistic supposition, particularly when the removal of the president from office is concerned and your own job and reputation are hanging by a thread.
You can watch the rare sight of a Fox News host criticizing a senior Trump Administration cabinet member in the video excerpt of Steve Hilton on The Next Revolution below.
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Original reporting by Joe Concha 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--2020-01-27--Senator Kennedy sneers for “everyone to take a Zoloft” and wonders if the ex-NSA is trustworthy

While the press is full of accounts this morning of Republican senators livid at the White House for blindsiding them over the bombshell incriminating revelations contained in former National Security Advisor John Bolton ’ s upcoming memoir that leaked yesterday in The New York Times , at least one GOP legislator seems more eager to simply go ahead with the pre-planned acquittal than to hear any additional testimony that could elucidate the truth underlying the charges against Donald Trump .
Politico ’ s Jake Sherman reports that Senator John Kennedy ( R-LA ) seems anxious to keep to Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) original truncated trial schedule that allowed each side to spend only 24 hours presenting their cases , presumably followed by a rapid vote with a foregone result of a not guilty version , given the 2/3rds majority needed to remove the president .
Kennedy prescribed his own remedy for the anxiety over both the sudden turn of events disrupting the GOP ’ s strategy of a quick termination of the impeachment proceedings and the potential collapse of Trump ’ s defense against the charges he faces .
Add your name to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand Trump get a fair trial !
Senator Kennedy ’ s “ Just say yes ” approach to pill-popping might be related to the fact that the Health industry is the fourth largest source of his campaign contributions , but his vision of a jury of sedated , zombified partisan senators deciding the fate of the president — and consequently the nation — seems less than optimal for a true determination of justice , to say the least .
Perhaps we will need to ask our elected representatives to take drug tests to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as jurors in this trial of supreme constitutional importance .
Now those courtroom artist renditions of senators sleeping in the chamber during the impeachment proceedings are making much more sense .
Kennedy ’ s comments about his uncertainty about the credibility of Parnas and Bolton actually only add urgency to the need to call them as official witnesses in the trial , since neither has testified under oath to date and been subjected to cross-examination and an in-person assessment of their truthfulness .
Moreover , one must ask exactly how Senator Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the credibility of others given the fact that they are accepting the denials of guilt from a president who is not only a proven liar but who has set a likely insurmountable record for the sheer number of lies he tells on a daily basis .
While it ’ s understandable that some people would have trouble trusting Lev Parnas — who is , after all , under indictment for illegal campaign contributions to GOP candidates and seeking leniency in exchange for cooperation with the impeachment investigations — the dubiousness about Bolton ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a conservative Republican luminary since the Reagan era and usually only considered with skepticism by those on the progressive end of the political spectrum .
With the Bolton revelations creating an earthquake of shifting grounds for the GOP defense of the president , Senator Kennedy may need to advocate something considerably stronger than Zoloft which is typically used to treat depression , panic attacks , obsessive-compulsive disorder , post-traumatic stress disorder , and social anxiety disorder — all symptoms Republicans are likely to be suffering from in the wake of Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republicans , the United States does not have the tradition of ritual suicide when faced with the overwhelming shame of failure and publicly harmful scandal .
Instead of requesting a new prescription , perhaps GOP Senators can simply choose the honorable path by resigning en masse .
Then they can take all the Zoloft they want .
What do you think ?

While the press is full of accounts this morning of Republican senators livid at the White House for blindsiding them over the bombshell incriminating revelations contained in former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s upcoming memoir that leaked yesterday in The New York Times, at least one GOP legislator seems more eager to simply go ahead with the pre-planned acquittal than to hear any additional testimony that could elucidate the truth underlying the charges against Donald Trump.
Politico’s Jake Sherman reports that Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) seems anxious to keep to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) original truncated trial schedule that allowed each side to spend only 24 hours presenting their cases, presumably followed by a rapid vote with a foregone result of a not guilty version, given the 2/3rds majority needed to remove the president.
Kennedy prescribed his own remedy for the anxiety over both the sudden turn of events disrupting the GOP’s strategy of a quick termination of the impeachment proceedings and the potential collapse of Trump’s defense against the charges he faces.
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy says we’re halfway through the trial so we should “pop a Zoloft” and take our meds. He said he isn’t sure whether he believes Parnas and Bolton. Allegations, he said, would be more believable if they were coming from someone else. — Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 27, 2020
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Senator Kennedy’s “Just say yes” approach to pill-popping might be related to the fact that the Health industry is the fourth largest source of his campaign contributions, but his vision of a jury of sedated, zombified partisan senators deciding the fate of the president — and consequently the nation — seems less than optimal for a true determination of justice, to say the least.
Perhaps we will need to ask our elected representatives to take drug tests to determine if they are mentally fit to serve as jurors in this trial of supreme constitutional importance. Now those courtroom artist renditions of senators sleeping in the chamber during the impeachment proceedings are making much more sense.
Kennedy’s comments about his uncertainty about the credibility of Parnas and Bolton actually only add urgency to the need to call them as official witnesses in the trial, since neither has testified under oath to date and been subjected to cross-examination and an in-person assessment of their truthfulness.
Moreover, one must ask exactly how Senator Kennedy and his GOP colleagues can even measure the credibility of others given the fact that they are accepting the denials of guilt from a president who is not only a proven liar but who has set a likely insurmountable record for the sheer number of lies he tells on a daily basis.
While it’s understandable that some people would have trouble trusting Lev Parnas — who is, after all, under indictment for illegal campaign contributions to GOP candidates and seeking leniency in exchange for cooperation with the impeachment investigations — the dubiousness about Bolton’s claims is surprising given that he has been a conservative Republican luminary since the Reagan era and usually only considered with skepticism by those on the progressive end of the political spectrum.
With the Bolton revelations creating an earthquake of shifting grounds for the GOP defense of the president, Senator Kennedy may need to advocate something considerably stronger than Zoloft which is typically used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder — all symptoms Republicans are likely to be suffering from in the wake of Bolton’s incriminating evidence.
Luckily for the Republicans, the United States does not have the tradition of ritual suicide when faced with the overwhelming shame of failure and publicly harmful scandal. Instead of requesting a new prescription, perhaps GOP Senators can simply choose the honorable path by resigning en masse. Then they can take all the Zoloft they want.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-01-27--“Nothing was ever said to John Bolton.” Trump desperately tries to downplay bombshell revelation

According to a leaked transcript for former National Security Advisor John Bolton ’ s upcoming book , President Trump told him that $ 391 million in military aid to Ukraine was to be withheld until the Eastern European ally explicitly agreed to open up damaging investigations into Democrats , notably former Vice President Joe Biden .
The bombshell news refutes the claims that the aid was frozen for legitimate reasons and confirms that Trump abused the powers of the Oval Office to help his own reelection chances .
What was already a strong argument for impeachment has now become ironclad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s claim and vote to acquit the president they will be signaling beyond a shadow of a doubt that their party is more important to them than their country .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Last night , Trump fired off a deranged tweet thread claiming that he never said what Bolton alleges and that his former advisor is just lying in order to sell books .
It was an unconvincing tirade and his suggestion that the transcript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exonerates him is patently false , as it shows that he asked for the “ favor ” of investigating Biden .
In fact , the transcript reads more like something from a B-move mob boss than the ostensible leader of the free world .
Today , Trump doubled down on his claim during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Trump was asked about Bolton ’ s manuscript and if he thinks the former National Security Advisor will be compelled to testify in the impeachment trial .
The president responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s manuscript but denied its validity .
“ Nothing was ever said to John Bolton , ” said Trump , a completely absurd claim .
The idea that the National Security Advisor—one of the most important foreign policy voices in any administration—wouldn ’ t be told about the decision to freeze so much military aid to an embattled ally makes no sense , even by Trumpian standards .
As always , the safest presumption here is that Trump is lying .
Bolton must be called to testify so that the craven Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to directly confront his allegations .
If Trump is allowed to dodge consequences for perverting the White House for direct personal gain our democracy may never recover .
The stakes could not be any higher .
What do you think ?

According to a leaked transcript for former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s upcoming book, President Trump told him that $391 million in military aid to Ukraine was to be withheld until the Eastern European ally explicitly agreed to open up damaging investigations into Democrats, notably former Vice President Joe Biden. The bombshell news refutes the claims that the aid was frozen for legitimate reasons and confirms that Trump abused the powers of the Oval Office to help his own reelection chances.
What was already a strong argument for impeachment has now become ironclad. If Republicans choose to ignore Bolton’s claim and vote to acquit the president they will be signaling beyond a shadow of a doubt that their party is more important to them than their country.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Last night, Trump fired off a deranged tweet thread claiming that he never said what Bolton alleges and that his former advisor is just lying in order to sell books. It was an unconvincing tirade and his suggestion that the transcript of his call with the Ukrainian president exonerates him is patently false, as it shows that he asked for the “favor” of investigating Biden. In fact, the transcript reads more like something from a B-move mob boss than the ostensible leader of the free world.
I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. With that being said, the… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
…transcripts of my calls with President Zelensky are all the proof that is needed, in addition to the fact that President Zelensky & the Foreign Minister of Ukraine said there was no pressure and no problems. Additionally, I met with President Zelensky at the United Nations… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
…(Democrats said I never met) and released the military aid to Ukraine without any conditions or investigations – and far ahead of schedule. I also allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has done far more than the previous Administration. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2020
Today, Trump doubled down on his claim during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump was asked about Bolton’s manuscript and if he thinks the former National Security Advisor will be compelled to testify in the impeachment trial. The president responded that he hasn’t read Bolton’s manuscript but denied its validity.
“Nothing was ever said to John Bolton,” said Trump, a completely absurd claim. The idea that the National Security Advisor—one of the most important foreign policy voices in any administration—wouldn’t be told about the decision to freeze so much military aid to an embattled ally makes no sense, even by Trumpian standards. As always, the safest presumption here is that Trump is lying.
Bolton must be called to testify so that the craven Republican senators planning to vote against impeachment are forced to directly confront his allegations. If Trump is allowed to dodge consequences for perverting the White House for direct personal gain our democracy may never recover. The stakes could not be any higher.
Trump: "Nothing was ever said to John Bolton." lol pic.twitter.com/7Ht4jA55EA — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 27, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-27--Damning potential John Bolton Ukraine impeachment testimony revealed in early leak of book draft

While it ’ s still an open question as to whether a sufficient number of Republican Senators— or any , for that matter — will vote to allow testimony from as-yet-unheard-from witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump , the likely testimony from one of the most sought after voices with first-hand knowledge of the president ’ s Ukraine schemes was exposed today when The New York Times managed to get an advance draft of an outline of Trump ’ s former National Security Advisor John Bolton ’ s upcoming book .
The details revealed in the outline explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both his official attorneys and the Republican senators who have abandoned all pretense of being impartial arbiters of the facts of the charges against him — are working so hard to prevent Bolton or any other fact witnesses from testifying publicly before the Senate passes judgment on the removal of the president from office .
According to The Times : That smell ?
Oh , it ’ s just another smoking gun .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bolton ’ s tell-all political potboiler to “ multiple people , ” while noting that the mustachioed former advisor had provided copies of his working draft of the book to close associates as well as to the White House for the standard security review process .
The White House review — which is required of many former senior administration officials who wish to publish their remembrances of things Trump — means that the administration can delay or prevent the publication of the book by holding back approval unless the publisher excises any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication in the interest of “ national security ” or for whatever other reason they may or may not decide to divulge .
The article in The New York Times claims that “ dozens of pages ” of Bolton ’ s book are dedicated to a description of “ how the Ukraine affair unfolded over several months until he departed the White House in September.
” Some of the new details allegedly revealed in the draft implicate senior cabinet members in the administration in ways that have not been previously disclosed .
Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that he first learned about the controversy over the Ukraine military aid withholding in mid-August by stating that he told Barr about his worries over Rudy Giuliani ’ s activities conducting a shadowy foreign policy operation in Ukraine in a conversation immediately after Trump ’ s supposedly “ perfect ” phone call with President Zelensky in July .
The former National Security Advisor also puts White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney in an uncomfortable position by noting his presence during “ at least one phone call where the president and Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom they were planning on eliminating , despite Mulvaney ’ s avowals that he always left the room when the president spoke with Giuliani in order to preserve their attorney-client privilege .
Bolton also relates a story about how Trump turned a debrief session from the attendees of President Zelensky ’ s inauguration into a conspiracy theory-laden rant about how Ukraine was out to get him .
With White House lawyers already in possession of Bolton ’ s draft , it ’ s no wonder that the administration is fighting so hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any other direct witnesses to the actions he describes .
Trump has already related his objections to any Bolton testimony as a matter of national security .
While that last statement may be true , perhaps it ’ s not for quite the same reason that the president suggests .
While Trump will almost certainly call The New York Times account of the contents of John Bolton ’ s unpublished book “ fake news ” — likely shortly before he labels his former advisor a malicious , self-serving fabricator — the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase the pressure on the Senate to call witnesses to testify or risk even further outrage from the public over their obvious coverup of the president ’ s criminal actions .
You can read the full article about John Bolton ’ s upcoming book in the link to The New York Times article below .
What do you think ?

While it’s still an open question as to whether a sufficient number of Republican Senators— or any, for that matter — will vote to allow testimony from as-yet-unheard-from witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, the likely testimony from one of the most sought after voices with first-hand knowledge of the president’s Ukraine schemes was exposed today when The New York Times managed to get an advance draft of an outline of Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s upcoming book.
The details revealed in the outline explain why Trump’s defense team — both his official attorneys and the Republican senators who have abandoned all pretense of being impartial arbiters of the facts of the charges against him — are working so hard to prevent Bolton or any other fact witnesses from testifying publicly before the Senate passes judgment on the removal of the president from office.
According to The Times:
“President Trump told his national security adviser in August that he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped with investigations into Democrats including the Bidens, according to an unpublished manuscript by the former adviser, John R. Bolton.”
That smell? Oh, it’s just another smoking gun.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
The newspaper attributes its description of the contents of Bolton’s tell-all political potboiler to “multiple people,” while noting that the mustachioed former advisor had provided copies of his working draft of the book to close associates as well as to the White House for the standard security review process.
The White House review — which is required of many former senior administration officials who wish to publish their remembrances of things Trump — means that the administration can delay or prevent the publication of the book by holding back approval unless the publisher excises any sections that they refuse to clear for publication in the interest of “national security” or for whatever other reason they may or may not decide to divulge.
The article in The New York Times claims that “dozens of pages” of Bolton’s book are dedicated to a description of “how the Ukraine affair unfolded over several months until he departed the White House in September.” Some of the new details allegedly revealed in the draft implicate senior cabinet members in the administration in ways that have not been previously disclosed.
“For example, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged privately that there was no basis to claims by the president’s lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani that the ambassador to Ukraine was corrupt and believed Mr. Giuliani may have been acting on behalf of other clients, Mr. Bolton wrote,” according to the newspaper.
Bolton contradicts Attorney General William Barr’s claims that he first learned about the controversy over the Ukraine military aid withholding in mid-August by stating that he told Barr about his worries over Rudy Giuliani’s activities conducting a shadowy foreign policy operation in Ukraine in a conversation immediately after Trump’s supposedly “perfect” phone call with President Zelensky in July.
The former National Security Advisor also puts White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney in an uncomfortable position by noting his presence during “at least one phone call where the president and Mr. Giuliani discussed the ambassador” to Ukraine whom they were planning on eliminating, despite Mulvaney’s avowals that he always left the room when the president spoke with Giuliani in order to preserve their attorney-client privilege.
Bolton also relates a story about how Trump turned a debrief session from the attendees of President Zelensky’s inauguration into a conspiracy theory-laden rant about how Ukraine was out to get him.
With White House lawyers already in possession of Bolton’s draft, it’s no wonder that the administration is fighting so hard to prevent any additional testimony from either Bolton or any other direct witnesses to the actions he describes. Trump has already related his objections to any Bolton testimony as a matter of national security.
“’The problem with John is it’s a national security problem,’ Mr. Trump said at a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. ‘He knows some of my thoughts. He knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it’s not very positive?'” The Times quotes the president. “It’s going to make the job very hard,” Trump added.
While that last statement may be true, perhaps it’s not for quite the same reason that the president suggests.
While Trump will almost certainly call The New York Times account of the contents of John Bolton’s unpublished book “fake news” — likely shortly before he labels his former advisor a malicious, self-serving fabricator — the early leak of its uncensored bombshells should only increase the pressure on the Senate to call witnesses to testify or risk even further outrage from the public over their obvious coverup of the president’s criminal actions.
You can read the full article about John Bolton’s upcoming book in the link to The New York Times article below.
Bolton's motivations for testimony – he has a story he wants to tell, and he is concerned he'll be accused of holding stuff back to juice his book sales instead of speaking out https://t.co/N3Tsce4gR7 — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 26, 2020
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Original reporting by Maggie Haberman and
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--2020-01-26--Trump tweet spins disastrous Fox News impeachment poll in transparent misdirection

One of the lasting images of the last days of the presidency of Richard Nixon is of the exhausted , physically and mentally unwell president drinking alone in the White House on the eve of the resignation he acceded to in order to avoid the shame of impeachment .
Donald Trump lacks the taste for alcohol and the sense of shame to emulate the disgraced criminal president ’ s behavior in what will hopefully be among his own last days occupying the Oval Office .
Rather than sit alone and drown his impeachment sorrows in the bottle , Trump broadcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defensive and self-pitying tweets that alternate between trying to convince the world of his innocence through the endless repetition of obvious lies and accusing his prosecutors of perfidy in their presentation of the copious evidence against him .
The man who once said that he would not have time to play golf as president — and then proceeded to spend at least 244 days and $ 124 million of taxpayer dollars to do exactly that — now spends a good portion of his days tweeting endlessly about the “ unfairness ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job he is doing , and providing examples of how willing his Republican supporters are to kiss his royal behind to curry favor with him .
If only anything that he tweeted had an inkling of truth to its contents .
Even when a Trump tweet does have a limited basis in reality , the spin and omissions contained in it render it as false as his complete fabrications .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Take this midday tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Senate impeachment trial .
Retweeting random “ quotes ” and video clips from the virtual state media outlet of Fox News is a standard feature of the president ’ s twitter feed , so many people would read the above statement and dismiss it as simply just more of Trump ’ s tactic of reinforcing the reverberations of his right-wing echo chamber to maximize the effect of his defenders ’ support .
Yet , this particular tweet is far more insidious than it initially appears .
You see , the poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of citizens think that the Senate already has sufficient information in Trump ’ s impeachment trial that no more witnesses or evidence need be introduced , also demonstrates that a clear majority also want him convicted and removed from office based on the already available evidence .
The president ’ s spin here is so audacious as to be either completely delusional or the rhetorical equivalent of a hail mary pass .
Trump ’ s tweets as the trial continues on have devolved at times to a form of social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president tweeting and retweeting the same lame catchphrases in his defense despite their negligible relationship to the truth .
For example , take another of his tweets from this afternoon that repeats for the umpteenth time Trump ’ s capitalized admonition to “ read the transcripts ” of his self-described “ perfect ” phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky .
Trump is counting on an ill-informed public to think that the redacted call summary that he has provided of the conversation — the cover page of which clearly states that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is all the exoneration he needs to deny the existence of the quid pro quo that forms part of the basis for his impeachment .
He ’ s counting on the vast majority of people to not visit the White House web page containing a scan of the unclassified version of the document where they would clearly see this note on the front page : What do you think ?

One of the lasting images of the last days of the presidency of Richard Nixon is of the exhausted, physically and mentally unwell president drinking alone in the White House on the eve of the resignation he acceded to in order to avoid the shame of impeachment.
Donald Trump lacks the taste for alcohol and the sense of shame to emulate the disgraced criminal president’s behavior in what will hopefully be among his own last days occupying the Oval Office.
Rather than sit alone and drown his impeachment sorrows in the bottle, Trump broadcasts them to the world in a series of defensive and self-pitying tweets that alternate between trying to convince the world of his innocence through the endless repetition of obvious lies and accusing his prosecutors of perfidy in their presentation of the copious evidence against him.
The man who once said that he would not have time to play golf as president — and then proceeded to spend at least 244 days and $124 million of taxpayer dollars to do exactly that — now spends a good portion of his days tweeting endlessly about the “unfairness” of his impeachment, about what a great job he is doing, and providing examples of how willing his Republican supporters are to kiss his royal behind to curry favor with him.
If only anything that he tweeted had an inkling of truth to its contents. Even when a Trump tweet does have a limited basis in reality, the spin and omissions contained in it render it as false as his complete fabrications.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Take this midday tweet from the president on this Sunday break from the Senate impeachment trial.
Majority of people say “the U.S. Senate already has enough information!” @FoxNews — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Retweeting random “quotes” and video clips from the virtual state media outlet of Fox News is a standard feature of the president’s twitter feed, so many people would read the above statement and dismiss it as simply just more of Trump’s tactic of reinforcing the reverberations of his right-wing echo chamber to maximize the effect of his defenders’ support.
Yet, this particular tweet is far more insidious than it initially appears.
You see, the poll that Fox News conducted to conclude that a majority of citizens think that the Senate already has sufficient information in Trump’s impeachment trial that no more witnesses or evidence need be introduced, also demonstrates that a clear majority also want him convicted and removed from office based on the already available evidence.
The president’s spin here is so audacious as to be either completely delusional or the rhetorical equivalent of a hail mary pass.
Trump’s tweets as the trial continues on have devolved at times to a form of social media Tourette’s syndrome, with the president tweeting and retweeting the same lame catchphrases in his defense despite their negligible relationship to the truth.
For example, take another of his tweets from this afternoon that repeats for the umpteenth time Trump’s capitalized admonition to “read the transcripts” of his self-described “perfect” phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Nothing done wrong, READ THE TRANSCRIPTS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Trump is counting on an ill-informed public to think that the redacted call summary that he has provided of the conversation — the cover page of which clearly states that it is NOT a full transcript of the call — is all the exoneration he needs to deny the existence of the quid pro quo that forms part of the basis for his impeachment.
He’s counting on the vast majority of people to not visit the White House web page containing a scan of the unclassified version of the document where they would clearly see this note on the front page:
“CAUTION: A Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation (TELCON) is not a verbatim transcript of a discussion. The text in this document records the notes and recollections of Situation Room Duty Officers and NSC policy staff assigned to listen and memorialize the conversation in written form as the conversation takes place. A numper of factors can affect ‘the accuracy of the record, including poor telecommunications connections and variations in accent and/or interpretation. The word “inaudible” is used to indicate portions of a conversation that the notetaker was unable to hear.
Yes, read the transcripts because — even in their redacted form — the evidence of extortionary intent is obvious, but be aware that the supposed record of the conversation has been carefully edited to omit anything beyond what the White House is willing to divulge. The sad fact is that even with a full half of the nation agreeing that Trump must be removed from office, his fate will remain in the hands of a group of Republican Senators too fearful of retribution and too lacking in courage to rise up to the occasion that their constitutional oath requires. While the rest of us wait to suffer the nearly inevitable outcome of a sham and rigged impeachment trial, a pathetic figure will be hunched over his phone blasting out a never-ending series of tweets from an imagined reality of his own making, willing the legitimacy of his likely acquittal into an unjustified existence one character at a time. Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-01-26--“They know he’s guilty”: George Conway saddened by GOP Senators’ gaslighting in Trump defense

Appearing on CNN ’ s State of the Union this morning , conservative GOP attorney George Conway continued his crusade to hold Donald Trump and his own Republican party accountable for the abdication of their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution .
Conway , as he has in his persistent criticism of the president ’ s misdeeds and diminished intellectual functioning on his popular Twitter feed , excoriated Trump and his legal defense team for their attempts to portray the president ’ s actions as anything other than nakedly corrupt self-interest .
However , the leading figure in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans saved his most savage comments for the cowardly Republican Senators poised to acquit the president without even hearing a shred of evidence from the first-hand witnesses to Trump ’ s actions — actions that they criticize Democrats for failing to provide despite the fact that it was the president himself who forbade his staff from honoring the subpoenas they received .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
Discussing with host Jake Tapper the responsibility of the Senate to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , Conway said : “ That ’ s what a trial is !
That ’ s what this is supposed to be for !
And their job is to hear the evidence , to hear all of it !
Not some of it , or none of it , which seems to be the way they ’ re going.
” Asked his reaction to GOP Senators who are dead set against allowing new witnesses and evidence to be presented at the trial , Conway pointedly asked : “ What are they afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
That they ’ re going to hear evidence that they don ’ t like ?
They must be afraid of something .
And that ’ s the thing that I find most disturbing about it : if they don ’ t want to hear the evidence because they know the truth .
They know he ’ s guilty .
And they don ’ t want to hear the evidence because they don ’ t want the American people to see it too.
” As one of the few Republicans willing to admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while his fellow members of the GOP continue to shower praise on Trump ’ s invisible clothing , Conway was emotional in describing his disappointment with the Republican defenders of the criminal chief executive .
“ I ’ m deeply saddened , ” Conway confessed .
“ It is very upsetting and this is a moment of reckoning not just for the country and the rule of law and the constitution , but it is a specific day of reckoning for the Republican senators who took this oath , and the Republican party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lies instead of truth ?
” “ Are they going to stand for gaslighting instead of reality ?
Are they going to just do the bidding of this one man and put his interests over those of the country ?
That is what this is about , ” he concluded ominously .
If the Republican party manages to survive the impact that the rise of Donald Trump has had upon the credibility and viability of their continued existence once the fallout from Trump ’ s assault on constitutional norms is fully revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or through his defeat at the ballot box — George Conway may be one of the few remaining GOP thought leaders who will be able to continue to speak with any authority , having never succumbed to the slavish devotion to the golden calf , the false god that is the Trump presidency .
You can watch George Conway ’ s exchange with Jake Tapper on CNN ‘ s State of the Union in the video clip below .
What do you think ?

Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union this morning, conservative GOP attorney George Conway continued his crusade to hold Donald Trump and his own Republican party accountable for the abdication of their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution.
Conway, as he has in his persistent criticism of the president’s misdeeds and diminished intellectual functioning on his popular Twitter feed, excoriated Trump and his legal defense team for their attempts to portray the president’s actions as anything other than nakedly corrupt self-interest.
However, the leading figure in the “Never Trump” wing of traditionalist Republicans saved his most savage comments for the cowardly Republican Senators poised to acquit the president without even hearing a shred of evidence from the first-hand witnesses to Trump’s actions — actions that they criticize Democrats for failing to provide despite the fact that it was the president himself who forbade his staff from honoring the subpoenas they received.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Discussing with host Jake Tapper the responsibility of the Senate to hear all of the available evidence against the president, Conway said:
“That’s what a trial is! That’s what this is supposed to be for! And their job is to hear the evidence, to hear all of it! Not some of it, or none of it, which seems to be the way they’re going.”
Asked his reaction to GOP Senators who are dead set against allowing new witnesses and evidence to be presented at the trial, Conway pointedly asked:
“What are they afraid of? What are they afraid of? That they’re going to hear evidence that they don’t like? They must be afraid of something. And that’s the thing that I find most disturbing about it: if they don’t want to hear the evidence because they know the truth. They know he’s guilty. And they don’t want to hear the evidence because they don’t want the American people to see it too.”
As one of the few Republicans willing to admit to the obvious nakedness of the president while his fellow members of the GOP continue to shower praise on Trump’s invisible clothing, Conway was emotional in describing his disappointment with the Republican defenders of the criminal chief executive.
“I’m deeply saddened,” Conway confessed. “It is very upsetting and this is a moment of reckoning not just for the country and the rule of law and the constitution, but it is a specific day of reckoning for the Republican senators who took this oath, and the Republican party generally, are they going to stand for lies instead of truth?” “Are they going to stand for gaslighting instead of reality? Are they going to just do the bidding of this one man and put his interests over those of the country? That is what this is about,” he concluded ominously.
If the Republican party manages to survive the impact that the rise of Donald Trump has had upon the credibility and viability of their continued existence once the fallout from Trump’s assault on constitutional norms is fully revealed and rectified — whether through his impeachment or through his defeat at the ballot box — George Conway may be one of the few remaining GOP thought leaders who will be able to continue to speak with any authority, having never succumbed to the slavish devotion to the golden calf, the false god that is the Trump presidency.
You can watch George Conway’s exchange with Jake Tapper on CNN‘s State of the Union in the video clip below.
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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--2020-01-26--Trump’s furious tweet accused of implying mob-boss-style threat against Adam Schiff

With Donald Trump seemingly auditioning for a role in the next Martin Scorsese wise guy opus as a vengeful mob boss — as the recently leaked video of the president ordering his minions to “ take her out !
” ( referring to former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch ) suggests — Representative Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) , the head of the House impeachment managers , might want to hire some heavy-duty private security for his protection .
Trump has made his antipathy towards the congressman quite clear in his Twitter posts over the course of his presidency , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of tweets that included what many observers were interpreting as a veiled threat against Schiff that could inspire the president ’ s more deranged supporters to attempt to resort to the same type of violence that Trump ’ s Mafia-kingpin-like command to remove his inconveniently obstructing ambassador insinuated .
Beginning with an inversion of the very accusations that have cast a cloud on his presidency since the beginning , Trump describes “ The Impeachment Hoax ” as exactly the type of “ massive election interference ” that his own election benefited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin hackers .
Unlike the legal analysts who watched his defense team open their rebuttal to the case for Trump ’ s removal and judged it as “ constitutional nonsense ” that “ actually made Democrats ’ rationale for calling more witnesses even stronger , ” the president claims that his lawyers have already exonerated him and fell back on his claims that Schiff ’ s parodic rendition of his “ perfect ” phone call was illegal .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next tweet , however , is the height of projection .
Trump goes on to describe Schiff in exactly the terms that any sentient human following the details of the case against the president and his everyday behavior would use to portray Trump himself .
It ’ s almost as if the president is reading the comments section of his own Twitter posts and simply copying and pasting Adam Schiff ’ s name into the angry retorts that the Trump resistance is sending his way and reposting them as his own original thoughts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee Chairman “ has not paid the price , yet , for what he has done to our country ” ( emphasis added ) is what has led to claims that Trump is attempting to intimidate Schiff with implied threats of retribution and potential violence for his daring to expose the president ’ s criminal actions for all the world to witness .
As too much of the American public sits on the sidelines watching the impeachment trial with vague cynicism — knowing that Republican corruption and lust for continued power will lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called and a foregone acquittal despite the overpowering evidence of the president ’ s guilt — and expressing outrage on Twitter , Trump continues to try to gaslight the nation .
Democratic Senators are expressing dismay that they haven ’ t been getting more phone calls imploring them to convict Trump and remove him from office .
Get off your butts and call your senators right now !
How much more of this can we stand ?
What do you think ?

With Donald Trump seemingly auditioning for a role in the next Martin Scorsese wise guy opus as a vengeful mob boss — as the recently leaked video of the president ordering his minions to “take her out!” (referring to former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch) suggests — Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), the head of the House impeachment managers, might want to hire some heavy-duty private security for his protection.
Trump has made his antipathy towards the congressman quite clear in his Twitter posts over the course of his presidency, but this morning he crossed a line with a series of tweets that included what many observers were interpreting as a veiled threat against Schiff that could inspire the president’s more deranged supporters to attempt to resort to the same type of violence that Trump’s Mafia-kingpin-like command to remove his inconveniently obstructing ambassador insinuated.
Beginning with an inversion of the very accusations that have cast a cloud on his presidency since the beginning, Trump describes “The Impeachment Hoax” as exactly the type of “massive election interference” that his own election benefited from thanks to the aid of the Kremlin hackers.
Unlike the legal analysts who watched his defense team open their rebuttal to the case for Trump’s removal and judged it as “constitutional nonsense” that “actually made Democrats’ rationale for calling more witnesses even stronger, ” the president claims that his lawyers have already exonerated him and fell back on his claims that Schiff’s parodic rendition of his “perfect” phone call was illegal.
The Impeachment Hoax is a massive election interference the likes of which has never been seen before. In just two hours the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats have seen their phony case absolutely shredded. Shifty is now exposed for illegally making up my phone call, & more! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
Trump’s next tweet, however, is the height of projection.
Trump goes on to describe Schiff in exactly the terms that any sentient human following the details of the case against the president and his everyday behavior would use to portray Trump himself.
Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man. He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2020
It’s almost as if the president is reading the comments section of his own Twitter posts and simply copying and pasting Adam Schiff’s name into the angry retorts that the Trump resistance is sending his way and reposting them as his own original thoughts.
The statement that the House Intelligence Committee Chairman “has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our country” (emphasis added) is what has led to claims that Trump is attempting to intimidate Schiff with implied threats of retribution and potential violence for his daring to expose the president’s criminal actions for all the world to witness.
Trump’s tweet immediately inspired outrage on social media.
CORRUPT POLITICIAN:
1. Spends over $100M on golf
2. Hides his tax returns
3. Obstructs justice
4. Extorts Ukraine
5. Hides witnesses
6. Hides documents
7. Lies 16,000 times
8. Threatens US Congressman
9. Threatens US Senators with "heads on pikes" You're corrupt, Spanky. — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) January 26, 2020
Saying “he has not paid the price” is so over the top like a mob boss that it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragically serious. Trump, like Nixon before him, probably has an enemies list and seeks petty revenge against them using the power of his office with taxpayer money. — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) January 26, 2020
what a great idea it was to hand the presidency to a petulant whiny child — Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) January 26, 2020
At least half of those followers are bots though, so they party can collectively faint for only half the time his followers indicate. — Uwaine (@Uwaine) January 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/mcspocky/status/1221465911430762496?s=20
@HouseDemocrats @HouseGOP @SenateGOP @SenateDems Classic Trump Transference, that’s what happens when your coping skills are limited and concrete evidence of guilt mounts despite having obstructed witnesses. — Anke Koning (@AnkeKoning) January 26, 2020
The defendant publicly suggests that the prosecutor should come to harm? You, Mr. #ImpeachedPresident, are a very sick man. It's been obvious for decades. What's not been obvious until now is that a minority of the American people identify with a garden variety sociopath. — Robert Swann (@RBSwann) January 26, 2020
His subconscious always tells the truth, doesn’t it? — Deb Lane (@Hippie_Grannie) January 26, 2020
Trump’s desperation is palpable.
As too much of the American public sits on the sidelines watching the impeachment trial with vague cynicism — knowing that Republican corruption and lust for continued power will lead to a sham trial without witnesses being called and a foregone acquittal despite the overpowering evidence of the president’s guilt — and expressing outrage on Twitter, Trump continues to try to gaslight the nation.
Democratic Senators are expressing dismay that they haven’t been getting more phone calls imploring them to convict Trump and remove him from office. Get off your butts and call your senators right now! How much more of this can we stand?
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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--2020-01-29--Trump weirdly massages his ego with tweet celebrating the “amazing job” he’s doing

And he just has to share his assessment of his own performance in office with the world on his Twitter feed , in a manner much like a man telling his latest sex partner just how good his stamina was during those glorious few seconds .
In the midst of his Senate impeachment trial , Trump felt it particularly important to remind America of exactly how mendacious and delusional he truly is — for , even if that wasn ’ t his intention , it was surely the gist that any sane person would glean from his post bragging about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up against those of his predecessors .
It truly is amazing .
Amazing , that is , that any conscious human would believe a word of his boasts , given the damage Trump has done to our nation in his brief — yet all too excruciatingly painful — tenure in office .
Amazing that the president doesn ’ t realize how closely his tweets resemble the parodic exaggerations of his many comedic mimics .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Trump tweet might best be read in a manner similar to how some people jokingly make their fortune cookies more interesting by appending the phrase “ in bed ” at the end of the Confucian advice those slim strips of paper typically contain .
In this instance , re-read Trump ’ s tweet and substitute the words “ the damage ” ( or “ the crimes ” or “ the atrocities ” or “ the lying ” or another suitable description of the president ’ s actual behavior ) for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence .
Then , and only then , does the tweet begin to resemble reality — minus the whiny and false descriptions of the investigations into his criminal actions as “ phony ” and unjustified .
As the majority of the country is increasingly realizing , there is only one way to keep America great and that is to remove this pustule of evil from the body politic as quickly and cleanly as possible .
As Trump ’ s favorability ratings begin the same downward trajectory that the ratings of his puerile reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ripe for the cancellation of this hybrid experiment in surreal tragi-comedy .
Instead , it ’ s time to deliver the sequel the nation has been waiting for — The Apprentice : Prison Edition .
What do you think ?

Donald Trump continues to impress himself.
And he just has to share his assessment of his own performance in office with the world on his Twitter feed, in a manner much like a man telling his latest sex partner just how good his stamina was during those glorious few seconds.
In the midst of his Senate impeachment trial, Trump felt it particularly important to remind America of exactly how mendacious and delusional he truly is — for, even if that wasn’t his intention, it was surely the gist that any sane person would glean from his post bragging about his imaginary achievements and how they measure up against those of his predecessors.
It’s amazing what I’ve done, the most of any President in the first three years (by far), considering that for three years I’ve been under phony political investigations and the Impeachment Hoax! KEEP AMERICA GREAT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020
It truly is amazing.
Amazing, that is, that any conscious human would believe a word of his boasts, given the damage Trump has done to our nation in his brief — yet all too excruciatingly painful — tenure in office.
Amazing that the president doesn’t realize how closely his tweets resemble the parodic exaggerations of his many comedic mimics.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
In fact, perhaps this particular gem of a Trump tweet might best be read in a manner similar to how some people jokingly make their fortune cookies more interesting by appending the phrase “in bed” at the end of the Confucian advice those slim strips of paper typically contain.
In this instance, re-read Trump’s tweet and substitute the words “the damage” (or “the crimes” or “the atrocities” or “the lying” or another suitable description of the president’s actual behavior) for the word “what” in the first sentence.
Then, and only then, does the tweet begin to resemble reality — minus the whiny and false descriptions of the investigations into his criminal actions as “phony” and unjustified.
As the majority of the country is increasingly realizing, there is only one way to keep America great and that is to remove this pustule of evil from the body politic as quickly and cleanly as possible.
As Trump’s favorability ratings begin the same downward trajectory that the ratings of his puerile reality show eventually suffered, the time is ripe for the cancellation of this hybrid experiment in surreal tragi-comedy.
Instead, it’s time to deliver the sequel the nation has been waiting for — The Apprentice: Prison Edition.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
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--2020-01-28--George Conway brutally drags Trump’s geography ignorance with extensive Twitter thread of gaffes

One of the more absurd defenses that Trump supporters have trotted out to explain his scheme to freeze military aid to Ukraine in the hopes of forcing the foreign nation to open a damaging investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter is that this president is legitimately concerned about rooting out corruption .
Nevermind the fact that his administration has been a cesspit of cronyism and sweetheart deals since day one .
Nevermind that Trump has a long history of alleged criminal acts .
No , the MAGA acolytes want us to believe that for the first time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for something not directly related to himself personally and wanted to assist the Eastern European country in rooting out crooked deals .
This overly generous interpretation of events flies directly in the face of the evidence we have and what we know about Trump ’ s mastery of geography .
It ’ s exceedingly unlikely that he would care about helping Ukraine when he has since day one demonstrated a staggering ignorance of foreign policy .
It was recently revealed that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed at a reporter and—claiming that Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to point to the country on a map .
She did so easily , but one can ’ t help but think that Trump himself would have been unable to identify Ukraine on a blank map if asked to do the same .
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses .
We demand Trump get a fair trial !
George Conway , a Republican lawyer always quick to mock Trump despite the fact that his wife Kellyanne Conway serves as Trump ’ s counselor , couldn ’ t resist the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oft-demonstrated ignorance .
To that end , he compiled a Twitter thread listing some of Trump ’ s most embarrassing geographic gaffes and some of them are absolutely brutal .
Conway kicked off the tweetstorm by saying that the content to follow was aimed at people who believe Trump could manage to find Ukraine on a marked map .
The mistakes ranged from seemingly thinking that Paris is located in Germany , to confusing the leaders of North and South Korea , to claiming that India doesn ’ t border China .
Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s greatest ( or worst ) hits , then remember to vote come November so that we can finally eject this dangerous ignoramus from the White House .
What do you think ?

One of the more absurd defenses that Trump supporters have trotted out to explain his scheme to freeze military aid to Ukraine in the hopes of forcing the foreign nation to open a damaging investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter is that this president is legitimately concerned about rooting out corruption.
Nevermind the fact that his administration has been a cesspit of cronyism and sweetheart deals since day one. Nevermind that Trump has a long history of alleged criminal acts. No, the MAGA acolytes want us to believe that for the first time in Trump’s life he expressed concern for something not directly related to himself personally and wanted to assist the Eastern European country in rooting out crooked deals.
This overly generous interpretation of events flies directly in the face of the evidence we have and what we know about Trump’s mastery of geography. It’s exceedingly unlikely that he would care about helping Ukraine when he has since day one demonstrated a staggering ignorance of foreign policy.
It was recently revealed that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed at a reporter and—claiming that Americans don’t care about Ukraine—challenged her to point to the country on a map. She did so easily, but one can’t help but think that Trump himself would have been unable to identify Ukraine on a blank map if asked to do the same.
Add your name to tell McConnell to allow impeachment witnesses. We demand Trump get a fair trial!
George Conway, a Republican lawyer always quick to mock Trump despite the fact that his wife Kellyanne Conway serves as Trump’s counselor, couldn’t resist the urge to mock the president’s oft-demonstrated ignorance. To that end, he compiled a Twitter thread listing some of Trump’s most embarrassing geographic gaffes and some of them are absolutely brutal. Conway kicked off the tweetstorm by saying that the content to follow was aimed at people who believe Trump could manage to find Ukraine on a marked map.
The mistakes ranged from seemingly thinking that Paris is located in Germany, to confusing the leaders of North and South Korea, to claiming that India doesn’t border China. Take a stroll through some of the president’s greatest (or worst) hits, then remember to vote come November so that we can finally eject this dangerous ignoramus from the White House.
A thread for those who think @realDonaldTrump could find Ukraine on a marked map: — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump seems to think Paris is in Germany. (It kind of was for a few years in the 1940s, I guess.) https://t.co/RF5e3Rb1VO — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
Also, @realDonaldTrump didn’t understand that when it’s the afternoon in Washington, it’s the middle of the night in Tokyo. https://t.co/1rRD1SOw0C — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
I have to say that really is my personal favorite. @realDonaldTrump is there trashing the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia for the breakup Yugoslavia, and they’re like, WTF. And then it dons on them—Balkans, Baltics … buffoon.https://t.co/ecZ4a9qOx1 — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
Oh, wait. A small correction. @realDonaldTrump thought Nipple and Button were in India, not separate countries. My bad—we all make mistakes. Sorry. https://t.co/TfvMJ05n9m — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump once got a call from the president of *South* Korea, but then told hundreds of journalists that he’d gotten a call from the leader of *North* Korea. https://t.co/qtGtTS2WSf — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump once told the prime minister of India, “It’s not like you’ve got China on your border.” (India has a 2,520-mile border with China.)https://t.co/U5ncPjFbbp — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
… yet made the mistake again in 2019. https://t.co/XsRCDJlxbe — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
When Gordon Sondland called @realDonaldTrump on July 26 and said he was in Kyiv, Trump had to ask whether Sondland was in Ukraine, according to the testimony of embassy staffer David Holmes. https://t.co/IXRiivo82z pic.twitter.com/RGkFTYCZ15 — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump asked, “Why is Seoul so close to the North Korean border?” And then, referring to the 10 million inhabitants of South Korea’s capital, he said, “They have to move!”https://t.co/8JZTJQ5Qqt — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
And in 2019, @realDonaldTrump remained blissfully ignorant, and confused about, the distinction between England and the UK. He seems to think that England changed its name. Maybe a branding thing. Who knows. https://t.co/QIYE4lYTEd — George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 28, 2020
Staff Report This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney. Latest Posts


occupydemocrats--2020-01-28--House GOP leader desperately sounds alarm: “We’re getting our asses kicked” by Dems in fundraising

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) told his Republican brethren during a closed-door meeting today that they just weren ’ t raising enough cash compared to the fired-up Democrats .
McCarthy ’ s desperate plea to amp up the fund-raising calls comes as the national outrage over the policies of Donald Trump have helped Democratic candidates and organizations reach record levels of political donations that imperil the chances of the Republicans regaining a majority in the House of Representatives during the 202o election cycle .
“ Some people got to have it.
” “ Some people really need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ all , do things , do things , do bad things with it.
” — For the Love of Money — The O ’ Jays The House Minority Leader ’ s entreaties were echoed by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise ( R-LA ) and National Republican Congressional Committee ( NRCC ) Chairman Tom Emmer ( R-MN ) as they implored legislators to up their fundraising games and increase their contributions to the NRCC which helps fund GOP congressional candidates .
According to a report at The Hill : “ Emmer said we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source in the room told The Hill .
“ Steve said members need to be raising money and paying dues , Kevin said we ’ re getting our asses kicked.
” “ McCarthy and Emmer reviewed the overall numbers and the disparity .
Also stressed difference between D and R member and candidate campaign COH ( cash on hand ) — about a $ 40m disparity , ” one GOP lawmaker texted The Hill .
“ Members need to meet their dues commitment minimally while also funding their campaign .
Too many members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given the checkered history of bill payment by the president that they ’ ve loyally emulated , it ’ s unsurprising that GOP congresspeople are failing to meet their obligations .
The NRCC has reportedly raised about $ 85 million in the last year , while , in contrast , their counterpart , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) , has raised $ 125 million to support its candidates , and that ’ s not counting the $ 87 million raised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even the combined forces of Congressmen McCarthy and Scalise couldn ’ t match that number .
Ironically , some GOP legislators blame the success of Donald Trump ’ s own money-grabbing skills during a presidential election campaign year for their own deficits in fundraising , given the finite amount of cash that donors are willing to offer political candidates .
The Republican shortfall has also been attributed to the success that Democratic candidates have had in convincing large numbers of small individual donors to contribute to their campaigns .
Still , the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can achieve the almost unprecedented task of losing a majority in the midterms and gaining it back during a presidential election year , something that hasn ’ t happened since 1952 .
“ The reality is , most places across the country , we ’ re going to be on offense .
We ’ re going to have to have the money to do that , and we ’ re clearly not there , ” Representative Tom Cole ( R-OK ) said .
“ A lot depends on how the president runs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some ways unpredictable , but it ’ s hard for me to see him not carrying the seats he carried last time.
” “ If people believe they can take the majority back , they ’ re a lot more likely to do it , ” Cole added .
“ We ’ ve got to get more members to believe that.
” That may prove to be a more difficult task that the GOP realizes , given the recent polling showing that a majority of Americans want Donald Trump removed from office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolved around the pursuit of money to the detriment of morals , social skills , and education , the Republican party has hitched its wagon to an armored car driven by a psychopathic lunatic .
As they chase behind the carefully hoarded bundles of moolah , they may soon be disappointed to find that they ’ ve been following an empty vessel full of only expired coupons rather than anything of lasting value .
Original reporting by JulieGrace Brufke and Reid Wilson at The Hill .
What do you think ?

“Money money money money, MONEY!” — For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told his Republican brethren during a closed-door meeting today that they just weren’t raising enough cash compared to the fired-up Democrats.
“We’re getting our asses kicked,” the California GOP leader complained to his fellow representatives.
McCarthy’s desperate plea to amp up the fund-raising calls comes as the national outrage over the policies of Donald Trump have helped Democratic candidates and organizations reach record levels of political donations that imperil the chances of the Republicans regaining a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2020 election cycle.
“Some people got to have it.”
“Some people really need it.”
“Listen to me why’all, do things, do things, do bad things with it.” — For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
The House Minority Leader’s entreaties were echoed by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Emmer (R-MN) as they implored legislators to up their fundraising games and increase their contributions to the NRCC which helps fund GOP congressional candidates.
According to a report at The Hill:
“Emmer said we are sounding the alarm,” one source in the room told The Hill. “Steve said members need to be raising money and paying dues, Kevin said we’re getting our asses kicked.” “McCarthy and Emmer reviewed the overall numbers and the disparity. Also stressed difference between D and R member and candidate campaign COH (cash on hand) — about a $40m disparity,” one GOP lawmaker texted The Hill. “ Members need to meet their dues commitment minimally while also funding their campaign. Too many members well behind on their dues.”
Perhaps, given the checkered history of bill payment by the president that they’ve loyally emulated, it’s unsurprising that GOP congresspeople are failing to meet their obligations.
“For the love of money,”
“People will steal from their mother.”
“For the love of money,”
“People will rob their own brother.” — For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
The NRCC has reportedly raised about $85 million in the last year, while, in contrast, their counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), has raised $125 million to support its candidates, and that’s not counting the $87 million raised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for candidates and party organizations last year.
Even the combined forces of Congressmen McCarthy and Scalise couldn’t match that number.
“Talk about cash money, money,”
“Talk about cash money- dollar bills, why’all.” — For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
Ironically, some GOP legislators blame the success of Donald Trump’s own money-grabbing skills during a presidential election campaign year for their own deficits in fundraising, given the finite amount of cash that donors are willing to offer political candidates.
“You’ve got members that are well behind in their fundraising goals. I just think it’s hard to do when there’s so much money being sucked up by Trump, his campaign and the super PAC,” one senior GOP representative told The Hill.
The Republican shortfall has also been attributed to the success that Democratic candidates have had in convincing large numbers of small individual donors to contribute to their campaigns.
“The real problem is the giving-cultural advancements that Democrats have made with their small-dollar donors that frankly have left Republicans in the dust. It’s not uncommon to meet a middle-class Democrat who has donated twenty bucks to a couple different presidential candidates and a handful of Senate and House candidates. This donor is currently a unicorn for Republicans,” Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist with close ties to party leaders, explained.
Still, the GOP is trying to convince itself that it can achieve the almost unprecedented task of losing a majority in the midterms and gaining it back during a presidential election year, something that hasn’t happened since 1952.
“The reality is, most places across the country, we’re going to be on offense. We’re going to have to have the money to do that, and we’re clearly not there,” Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) said. “A lot depends on how the president runs. He’s pretty unorthodox and in some ways unpredictable, but it’s hard for me to see him not carrying the seats he carried last time.” “If people believe they can take the majority back, they’re a lot more likely to do it,” Cole added. “We’ve got to get more members to believe that.”
That may prove to be a more difficult task that the GOP realizes, given the recent polling showing that a majority of Americans want Donald Trump removed from office.
“For the love of money,”
“People will lie, Lord, they will cheat.”
“For the love of money,”
“People don’t care who they hurt or beat.”
“For the love of money.” — For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
With a president whose entire life has revolved around the pursuit of money to the detriment of morals, social skills, and education, the Republican party has hitched its wagon to an armored car driven by a psychopathic lunatic. As they chase behind the carefully hoarded bundles of moolah, they may soon be disappointed to find that they’ve been following an empty vessel full of only expired coupons rather than anything of lasting value.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by JulieGrace Brufke and Reid Wilson 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