A 25-year union worker with Ford Motor Company says President Donald Trump is “the only person defending” American auto workers while 2020 Democrats propose an environmental agenda that will “destroy union jobs” for the middle class. In an op-ed for the Detroit News
Has Chuck talked to this guy? Don’t worry about it, he’s probably the only one....
The far left journal The Nation has an interesting article on the origins of the Russia-Trump fiasco. (I am aware that The Nation bigwig Katrina vanden Heuvel is married to Princeton Prof Stephen F. Cohen who is a respected Russian scholar, but who has been so close to Soviet and Russian officials over the years, that it is impossible to reject a hypothesis that he and Katrina and The Nation are so sympathetic to Russia and Soviets that they’ve lost their objectivity.) Here’s some snippets from the article https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-brennan/
“[E]ven with this all-consuming investigation now over, we still do not have a firm understanding of how it began. …Mifsud helped trigger the certifiably false conspiracy theory that the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government. It would be most welcome to find out exactly how that occurred. … We have yet to receive a credible explanation for why intelligence officials thought it was appropriate to take cues from an unverified collection of lurid conspiracy theories about Trump—all paid for by his political opponent. …Then there is the role of the CIA under John Brennan. …The New York Times includes the curious claim that Durham has asked interview subjects “whether C.I.A. officials might have somehow tricked the F.B.I. into opening the Russia investigation. … The unfortunate reality is that under Trump, Democratic leaders and intelligence officials used the Russia investigation as a political weapon against his presidency. Now that it has proven baseless, Trump and his supporters have legitimate grounds to uncover how it began. The fact that Trump will use Russiagate’s failure as a political weapon is exactly why us skeptics on the left warned that its evidentiary holes would help him. Rather than complaining, those who brought us Russiagate should accept responsibility for handing Trump that opportunity, and work to ensure that the national security state does not receive opportunities to intrude again.”
It looks like the “whistleblower” worked with the "DNC contractor” who was in Ukraine in 2016 pressing the Ukrainians for dirt “from their intelligence files” on Trump and Manafort. No wonder Democrats are shitting bricks. At some point, Pelosi is going to have to cut this shit show loose.
It's sad to see morally upright star Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle's War) go morally bad (Inspector Lynley). British crime series role market.
There was an enormous tragic and mirth producing soap opera sudden plot development in Inspector Lynley that I won't mention to avoid spoilers, but script writers ought to stay away from sudden developments when they run out of plot ideas.
Drudge has lost it. “Spectre of Nixon hangs over Republicans”
Whoever worked so hard to co-opt Drudge is just fighting the last war. There were no alternatives to Drudge on the right in the ‘90s during the Clinton impeachment. Now he is just a way to find out what today's DNC talking points are.
History may not repeat itself and it may not stammer, but it is making Republicans nauseous. Despite the span of time between the Nixon and Trump impeachments, two political rules remain unchanged. First, you stick with the president of your party through thick and thin. Turning on him risks depressing your base. Second, you turn on the president of your party when things become too thick. Sticking with him for a day longer energizes the base of the opposing party and loses swing voters.
No one on Capitol Hill wants to end up on the wrong side of history and, perhaps more importantly, on the losing side of an election. That is why today, in private rooms and trusted conversations, the consensus among Republicans in Congress across the board is “who needs this?”. - Steve Israel, The Hill
Steve Israel represented New York in Congress for 16 years and served as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015.
653PMCDT. Last comment rhhardin (Brit crime series) at 627PM.
OK, catching up here. It's an understatement to describe Prof. Cohen the Russian expert as possibly unobjective--he was practically pissing himself on TV back when the institution he had devoted his life to studying (and frequently apologizing for) was undergoing it's overdue collapse. And let's not forget The Nation's coverage of Yugoslavia, whose readers were assured was pointing the way under Tito--Non-alignment (ha) and Socialism were overcoming the old ethnic and sectarian hatreds (haHAha).
OTOH, when you're right you're right, and Cohen could smell the DS-stank all over the Russia Collusion Hoax.
Replying to Narr at 7:03: In my earlier comment (at 5:59) I did not want to distract attention from what the Nation article actually said by inviting a long side-argument about whether or not the Nation was legitimately pro-left (and by implication anti-Trump). I wanted to recognize honestly the possibility of bias in The Nation. But I think the arguments in the article stand on their own.
Replying to commenters: Those of us who want to be objective can't avoid the comparisons to Nixon. I've made those comparisons here (on Althouse) in a number of comments.
1. The worst thing that Nixon did -- and what made his Presidency unsupportable -- was his attempt to use the CIA to ask the FBI not to investigate watergate break-in. He wanted CIA to tell FBI that the break-in was part of a national security effort. So step 1: read up about watergate, and see if you disagree with my characterization of Nixon and his role in Watergate scandal and see if you disagree that his role might have justified removal from office and see if you disagree that this is what actually caused Nixon to resign. You can disagree with any of this, but you need to work backwards from the fact that Nixon did resign, and did resign under pressure from both parties of Congress. You can argue, if you wish, that Nixon made a big mistake in resigning, but I think that train has left the station.
2. Lots of people (commenting here and elsewhere) believe that what happened in the OBAMA administration were a lot like what was described in point 1. Use of government resources for political ends. (Nixon: CIA tell the FBI to back off) to achieve political outcomes (Obama administration: CIA tell the FBI to investigate Trump Russia. Or DoJ use FISA court to investigate Trump associates).
3. If you are pro-Trump you are probably with me so far. But the point 3 is the essential question of whether Trump tried to use the Ukrainian phone call (a government resource) for political ends. It does seem to me that the gov't criminal investigation authority allows investigations of any criminal. A criminal cannot avoid investigations by announcing a campaign for President. But if Trump did use gov't resources for his own political ends, I need to work through the questions of whether or not this (a) not just as bad as Nixon (even if Obama was just as bad as Nixon), or (b) different from Nixon.
The "shock" "secret" "tunnel world" "nestled below the busy streets of Mexico City" is a 27 foot long water-drainage tunnel that was destroyed by Hernan Cortes, located about 12 miles outside Mexico City.
Over at Slate it seems that Dahlia Lithwick is swearing off of the SCOTUS beat because Kavanaugh. Not clear whether her absence will be felt more than that of political ads on Twitter.
’That is why today, in private rooms and trusted conversations, the consensus among Republicans in Congress across the board is “who needs this?”’
Has Mr. Israel noticed that Trump has more than 90% approval from Republican voters? Who needs this, he asks? Every elected GOP official in DC, that’s who...
The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that. Who do they want to testify who has relevant info?
According to reports from Catherine Herridge, when Vindman was asked to point to the language in the transcript that indicated any "demand", he struggled with it for a few minutes and then said he "FELT" because it's the POTUS on the call!
per the twatter acct of the inimitable @RoscoeBDavis1
Things arent looking great for ARM. He's pivoting back to healthcare!!
Hey ARM, havent you heard? Every single dem is going to force every single American off their current plans and shove them into horrific socialized medicine so that the dems can give free health care ti illegals!!
Please, please please make healthcare a primary issue for 2020 with THAT plan.
Seriously, please.
My favorite part?
Biden admitted publicly that the dems pkans will require large tax increases for the middle class...
....while taking away their healthcare...
....and giving free healthcare to illegals!!
LOLOLOLOL
No more democrat commies "hiding the ball". Now its all out there.
steve uhr: "The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that."
The dems voted against this.
All witnesses have to be approved by Schiff-ty.
And just today the dems voted against allowing exculpatory evidence to be transmitted from the Soviet Dem Intel committee to the Soviet Judiciary committee.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty alone will determine which hearings are public and which hearings are held in secret.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty alone gets to determine which non-public testimony gets released to the public.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty gets to direct wutnesses as to which republican question will be answered and which one the witnesses dont have to answer.
From just this week we see why: Eric Ciaramella is "the whistleblower", and he is a classic far left deep state hack.
- Registered Democrat - Worked for Obama - Worked for Biden - Worked for CIA Director John Brennan - ***He literally worked with DNC operative Alexandra Chalupa in 2016 in Ukraine to dig up dirt on Manafort and Trump
Yes. You read that correctly.
Ciaramella, the dems "star witness/whistleblower", is literally guilty of doing what the dems are falsely accusing Trump of doing.
And finally, Adam Schiff-ty ALONE will determine what is included in the committees final report.
If all of this strikes you as a scenario where Adam Schiff-ty gets to be the line investigator, prosecutor, defense attorney, judge AND jury here, congratulations. You've seen right thru the dems shenanigans.
Speaking of Katie Hill; I find it a bit interesting that we haven't heard anything about her from The Squad. Nor have we heard anything from Tlaib or Omar about al-Bagdadi's demise.
Wonder if Nancy's found a way to keep them on a short leash?
Biden is yammering about how he understands what it is like to pay off student loan debt. I guess that means he is going to get everybody’s kid a no show job on an overseas corporate board.
Every regulation put on colleges and universities requires additional administration and raises the cost of tuition. Maybe that’s something the President can actually do something about.
@h, regarding your point #3, does it change your calculations once you realize that in most respects Joe Biden would be the easiest of the leading candidates to take down? Get on YouTube and search for “creepy Joe Biden.” Unless YouTube has taken them down there are literally scores of clips of him inappropriately touching wives and young daughters of men who have their families with them on stage as they are bring honored. I do not think it appropriate for seventy year old men to place their hands on the side of a teenaged girl do that his fingertips brush her breast. I’m a septuagenarian myself, and it’s nothing I would do in private, much less on stage in front of cameras. Add in gaffes where he can to even remember which state he’s in, episodes of him losing his train of thought, and other demonstrations of senility, and he’d be lucky to carry his home state or Delaware. And Ukraine is surely not the only episode of Biden corruption, merely the one where he bragged about it on camera and in front of witnesses.
Donald Trump is not like Nixon. Like it or not (and I gather you don’t) Trump has not merely the right to cooperate with foreign governments to root out corruption; Under the Constitution he has an obligation to do so.
They say Jeffrey Epstein was smart, but obviously not. He could have ended all his troubles with a few simple words. “I declare my candidacy for president of the United States.”
Replying to Big Mike: My instinct at this point is to support Trump in 2020. But I am trying to avoid a "Trump-Yay" attitude. And I have (in my personal history) taken positions that would oppose Nixon and Obama for the reasons stated in my earlier post. What I am looking for (or considering) is reasonable arguments that what Trump did (in terms of using executive branch resources for political gain) is (a) not true -- not what Trump did or (b) it is what Trump did but not as bad as Nixon (or Obama). But you won't convince me by saying "Trump did it, but Obama did too." If I had known what the Obama administration did (what I think they did) when he was President, I would have supporting impeachment and removal of Obama. Obama was very clever in keeping these actions under wraps and at third hand removed. l
Ken B. Wow. I think that's what everyone needs to consider when they want to pursue the argument that Trump can't use the executive branch authority to pursue a political opponent. If we accept that tenet, then any criminal can avoid prosecution by declaring candidacy.
“…Then there is the role of the CIA under John Brennan. …The New York Times includes the curious claim that Durham has asked interview subjects “whether C.I.A. officials might have somehow tricked the F.B.I. into opening the Russia investigation. …”
The interesting thing there is that there is plenty of evidence that the FBI was working with the CIA on this. Joseph Misfyp helped train both CIA and FBI agents at his LINK Campus, so pretty much everyone involved knew that he was western intelligence and not a Russian asset. There have long been rumors that Peter Strzok was dual hatted, working for both agencies at the same time. Regardless, he was well known to Brennan, and was personally selected by him to work on the Intelligence Committee Assessment that (falsely and fraudulently) determined that the Russians had hacked the DNC server. By Strzok’s text messages with Page, it is fairly obvious that he in particular, and the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division in general, knew all about the Steele Dossier, and were waiting with great anticipation to receive it from the CIA through proper channels. This, btw, was a humorous place in the text messages, with him coming back victorious from London, and Page and her boss, McCabe, were maneuvering to get briefed on it before he briefed his immediate boss, Bil Priestrap.
In any case, that statement suggests that USA Durham seems more interested, at least there, in nailing the CIA for the entire SpyGate scandal, pretending, maybe, that the FBI and their DOJ were innocent dupes in the whole matter. This should be sending shivers of fear coursing up and down Brennan’s back right now, knowing that in a bureaucratic fight, people owing allegiance to the DOJ (Barr and Durham) would almost invariably try to put as much blame as possible on other agencies. Making things esp dangerous for the CIA, Barr has full declassification authority, which breaches their primary defense against being held accountable by claiming everything is classified (with the ownership of the classified information owned by the DNI, and thus normally out of reach by the DOJ). And, since this is now a criminal investigation, pretty much anything that the CIA (and ODNI) might do to stymie the investigation can be prosecuted as Obstruction of Justice.
This should be interesting. Making it more so, it is likely to roll out next spring and summer.
“ 3. If you are pro-Trump you are probably with me so far. But the point 3 is the essential question of whether Trump tried to use the Ukrainian phone call (a government resource) for political ends. It does seem to me that the gov't criminal investigation authority allows investigations of any criminal. A criminal cannot avoid investigations by announcing a campaign for President. But if Trump did use gov't resources for his own political ends, I need to work through the questions of whether or not this (a) not just as bad as Nixon (even if Obama was just as bad as Nixon), or (b) different from Nixon.”
Of course, the transcript has been out almost from the first. The Dems are essentially constrained to argue that it felt like pressure from Trump to investigate Biden, despite that fairly obviously not being found in the text of the call. And we are back to where we were with Mueller, arguing for Obstruction, because one of Trump’s motives for the actions laid out in the Mueller Report might not have been legitimate, when the actual standard is just the opposite, that a plausible legitimate reason for an action effectively negates the required specific intent. Mueller’s Lawfare misinterpretation of the Obstrution statute isn’t the law, and likely never will be. Similarly, imputing an improper motive, amongst several legitimate and proper motives doesn’t make a quid pro quo deal with the Ukrainians criminal (or a High Crime or Misdemeanor).
I wanted to follow up a bit with my comments on Joseph Misfyp. In the 4 Carter Page FISA warrant applications, he was described as a Russian asset, or working for the Russian government. And that is highly unlikely. If it had been true, then it would have been one of the biggest western intelligence breaches of the last several decades, because of his long experience teaching western intelligence analysts and agents - not just FBI and CIA, but the people for a number of other western intelligence agencies too. And he knew a lot of the higher ups in intelligence agencies throughout Europe, as well as the US.
What has long appeared to have been the case, it appears likely that retired British spy, Stephen Halper, on a very lucrative consulting contract with an obscure DOD intelligence agency, was running both Misfyp and Alexander Downer, the Australian ambassador to the UK, as assets. Misfyp sought out Carter Page and told him that the Russians had Crooked Hillary’s 35,000 missing emails. And then later Alexander sought out Page, and got him (Page) to tell him (Alexander) what Misfyp had told him, about the Russians having Clinton’s missing emails. There are a number of photos on the Internet showing the three of them together, in various combinations. Those photos alone are strong indicia that the whole thing was a setup from Day 1.
It was critical for the FBI cabal acquiring the FISA warrants on Carter Page that Misfyp be a Russian, and not western intelligence asset, because that is essentially jurisdictional under FISA. It has to be alleged (and certified) that the foreign contact be working for one of our enemies in order for him to legally be targeted by FISA Title 1 warrant. Showing that the certification was false, because they all knew that Misfyp was a western intelligence asset, collapse the entire Crossfire Hurricane investigation, as well as the justification for the Mueller investigation. And that very much looks like where we are right now - the predicate for the spying on Page, and through him, Trump and his close associates, was falsified. That means that the entire predicate for spying was concocted, most likely by Brennan and the CIA, with full knowledge by the FBI and DOJ.
The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that. Who do they want to testify who has relevant info?
A downloadable copy of my new song "I Ain't The One" which includes the lyric "I ain't the one called Trump a buffoon and then lost to the nigga like I spoke too soon."
What I am looking for (or considering) is reasonable arguments that what Trump did (in terms of using executive branch resources for political gain) is (a) not true -- not what Trump did or (b) it is what Trump did but not as bad as Nixon (or Obama)
Did Trump have the right to gather exculpatory evidence since he was under, and still is, investigation for soliciting election Russian interference when Ukraine has officially admitted to being pressured to interfere in the election by the Obama administration.
If you don’t think that Trump had a right to look into election interference coming out of Ukraine in 2016, which I will be happy to document.... again...., as a matter of national security, then I guess you have made up your mind.
Personally, I think that whatever information comes out of wherever as long as it really doesn’t harm national security, is fine, as long as it is true. A test that the stuff Obama’s CIA and FBI came out with fails. The Manafort stuff was apparently true, IDK. But Trump is facing removal(not really) for something that Obama and Hillary are plainly guilty of.
Once again, happy to provide links if you really care.
But you won't convince me by saying "Trump did it, but Obama did too."
But that’s not “replying to Big Mike” because I wrote nothing of the kind. Go reread what I wrote at 12:15. I made two points, the first being that Joe Biden would be an easy candidate to beat. You may disagree, but you’d be wrong. Trump can blanket the airwaves with ads showing Biden inappropriately touching little girls, with evidence that Biden is senile, and with evidence that Biden is corrupt. Would you vote for a man like that? Well, perhaps you would. At any rate, the first part of my argument is that Trump has no reason at this point to want Biden knocked out of the race.
The second part of my argument is essentially what you wrote to Ken B. at 12:19. How is Trump different from Nixon? Nixon tried to prevent a crime from being investigated. Trump is trying to have a probable case of corruption that was covered up be reopened and investigated by the proper authorities, even though it potentially could be to the detriment of his re-election.
My dog who ignores squirrels and rabbits pretty much and wild ducks and wild geese goes crazy, apparently over armadillos. Waking me up in the middle of the night barking at one, and still excited to hunt around for it in the morning.
I ain’t the one said “Slavery was a choice” then start a cult like it’s a new voice
I ain’t the one said “the Earth was flat” That shit went away and then came back
I ain’t the one said “Jesus is returning - I believe in Heaven and in Hell people’s burning”
I ain’t the one saying “No to reparations” expecting devotion/saluting the nation
I ain’t the one went to university just to find out I’m a tool for “diversity”
I ain’t the one backed The Central Park Five Believing in a movie - believing in a lie
I ain’t the one that “just say ‘no’” then turn around and legalize weed, yo
I ain’t the one that care about the planet but care about holidays more, damn it
I ain’t the one x4 Chorus:
I don’t think you understand, Nigga Crack Emcee’s the Burning Man, Nigga Shit gonna change - overnight Resistance becomes a fight Y’all gonna make some brand new plans, Nigga
I ain’t the one who called Trump a “buffoon” Then lost to the nigga like I spoke too soon
I ain’t the one who made Oprah a star Helping every con artist in the world go far
I ain’t the one who’s a Hillary fan Brought back slavery to Libya, Man
I ain’t the one announcing he’s gay After that got nothing else to say
I ain’t the one x4 Chorus
That’s why I say “Come on, riot!”
I ain’t the one told Madonna she’s an actor Put Kabballah water in a nuclear reactor
I ain’t the one that’s backing psychics Ruining your lives and then act like you like it
I ain’t the one that wore pussy hats Grown women protest like pussy cats
I ain’t the one go to Whole Paycheck And then come back, wonder what did I get?
I ain’t the one trying to end the patriarchy Just so I can start some brand new malarky
I ain’t the one that says intuition Is something that men must be missing
I ain’t the one that’s into misandry trying to pretend no one understands me
I ain’t the one conversating about race As I try to take over a place
I ain’t the one x4
I ain’t the one invented 57 genders then gets mad when no one remembers
I ain’t the one said “Women on top” And then had a son before this bullshit stop
I ain’t the one said we’re dead in 10 years back in ’89, seeing we’re still here
I ain’t the one said “We have to go vegan” When that shit’s debunked with President Reagan
I ain’t the one said “Quit the vaccines” Making kids sick, making folks mean
I ain’t the one said we had to “go organic” Raise the price of food, putting niggas in a panic
I ain’t the one that quit chiropractic Then had a stroke because your spine ain’t elastic
“The Little House was very happy as she sat on the hill and watched the countryside around her. She watched the sun rise in the morning and she watched the sun set in the evening. Day followed day, each one a little different from the one before . . . but the Little House stayed just the same.” – Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House
Skylark, squirrels and chipmunks still excite my little dackel, but what really gets him going is the 'possum that blunders through a few times a year.
Remarkable critters, possums. Their body temperature is lower than most mammals so they don't carry as many harmful-to-humans illnesses as most, especially raccoons. A treed 'possum is one of the few things that can keep the dog out barking for hours, even in the cold.
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57 comments:
A 25-year union worker with Ford Motor Company says President Donald Trump is “the only person defending” American auto workers while 2020 Democrats propose an environmental agenda that will “destroy union jobs” for the middle class. In an op-ed for the Detroit News
Has Chuck talked to this guy? Don’t worry about it, he’s probably the only one....
On former-Rep Katie Hill I forgot one: Wiki - Joe Barton (sex scandal)
bUt iT woUlD nEveR haPpEn tO a mAn!
The far left journal The Nation has an interesting article on the origins of the Russia-Trump fiasco. (I am aware that The Nation bigwig Katrina vanden Heuvel is married to Princeton Prof Stephen F. Cohen who is a respected Russian scholar, but who has been so close to Soviet and Russian officials over the years, that it is impossible to reject a hypothesis that he and Katrina and The Nation are so sympathetic to Russia and Soviets that they’ve lost their objectivity.) Here’s some snippets from the article https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-brennan/
“[E]ven with this all-consuming investigation now over, we still do not have a firm understanding of how it began. …Mifsud helped trigger the certifiably false conspiracy theory that the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government. It would be most welcome to find out exactly how that occurred. … We have yet to receive a credible explanation for why intelligence officials thought it was appropriate to take cues from an unverified collection of lurid conspiracy theories about Trump—all paid for by his political opponent. …Then there is the role of the CIA under John Brennan. …The New York Times includes the curious claim that Durham has asked interview subjects “whether C.I.A. officials might have somehow tricked the F.B.I. into opening the Russia investigation. … The unfortunate reality is that under Trump, Democratic leaders and intelligence officials used the Russia investigation as a political weapon against his presidency. Now that it has proven baseless, Trump and his supporters have legitimate grounds to uncover how it began. The fact that Trump will use Russiagate’s failure as a political weapon is exactly why us skeptics on the left warned that its evidentiary holes would help him. Rather than complaining, those who brought us Russiagate should accept responsibility for handing Trump that opportunity, and work to ensure that the national security state does not receive opportunities to intrude again.”
It looks like the “whistleblower” worked with the "DNC contractor” who was in Ukraine in 2016 pressing the Ukrainians for dirt “from their intelligence files” on Trump and Manafort. No wonder Democrats are shitting bricks. At some point, Pelosi is going to have to cut this shit show loose.
https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/jeffrey-epsteins-former-sex-slave-visited-him-90-times-in-jail/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons
It's sad to see morally upright star Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyle's War) go morally bad (Inspector Lynley). British crime series role market.
There was an enormous tragic and mirth producing soap opera sudden plot development in Inspector Lynley that I won't mention to avoid spoilers, but script writers ought to stay away from sudden developments when they run out of plot ideas.
Drudge has lost it. “Spectre of Nixon hangs over Republicans”
Whoever worked so hard to co-opt Drudge is just fighting the last war. There were no alternatives to Drudge on the right in the ‘90s during the Clinton impeachment. Now he is just a way to find out what today's DNC talking points are.
History may not repeat itself and it may not stammer, but it is making Republicans nauseous. Despite the span of time between the Nixon and Trump impeachments, two political rules remain unchanged. First, you stick with the president of your party through thick and thin. Turning on him risks depressing your base. Second, you turn on the president of your party when things become too thick. Sticking with him for a day longer energizes the base of the opposing party and loses swing voters.
No one on Capitol Hill wants to end up on the wrong side of history and, perhaps more importantly, on the losing side of an election. That is why today, in private rooms and trusted conversations, the consensus among Republicans in Congress across the board is “who needs this?”. - Steve Israel, The Hill
Steve Israel represented New York in Congress for 16 years and served as the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015.
Great clouds for a dramatic sunrise but those on the horizon prevent the sun from illuminating the clouds in the foreground.
Some are better than others but I've yet to see one that I don't like.
653PMCDT. Last comment rhhardin (Brit crime series) at 627PM.
OK, catching up here. It's an understatement to describe Prof. Cohen the Russian expert as possibly unobjective--he was practically pissing himself on TV back when the institution he had devoted his life to studying (and frequently apologizing for) was undergoing it's overdue collapse. And let's not forget The Nation's coverage of Yugoslavia, whose readers were assured was pointing the way under Tito--Non-alignment (ha) and Socialism were overcoming the old ethnic and sectarian hatreds (haHAha).
OTOH, when you're right you're right, and Cohen could smell the DS-stank all over the Russia Collusion Hoax.
Narr
Good on him
I'm in Seattle today. It's a lovely city. A smaller, cleaner version of SF.
Of course, the citizens here are mostly young, brain dead, Leftwing zombies, working for Amazon or Microsoft, but, still, they are very polite.
Al-Baghdadi’s DIRTY UNDERWEAR, Stolen By A Kurdish Spy, Gave Him Away
https://truepundit.com/report-al-baghdadis-dirty-underwear-stolen-by-a-kurdish-spy-gave-him-away/
*****
Ciaramella and Chalupa-- make that Chalupas-- there's 3! of them!!
Replying to Narr at 7:03: In my earlier comment (at 5:59) I did not want to distract attention from what the Nation article actually said by inviting a long side-argument about whether or not the Nation was legitimately pro-left (and by implication anti-Trump). I wanted to recognize honestly the possibility of bias in The Nation. But I think the arguments in the article stand on their own.
Replying to commenters: Those of us who want to be objective can't avoid the comparisons to Nixon. I've made those comparisons here (on Althouse) in a number of comments.
1. The worst thing that Nixon did -- and what made his Presidency unsupportable -- was his attempt to use the CIA to ask the FBI not to investigate watergate break-in. He wanted CIA to tell FBI that the break-in was part of a national security effort. So step 1: read up about watergate, and see if you disagree with my characterization of Nixon and his role in Watergate scandal and see if you disagree that his role might have justified removal from office and see if you disagree that this is what actually caused Nixon to resign. You can disagree with any of this, but you need to work backwards from the fact that Nixon did resign, and did resign under pressure from both parties of Congress. You can argue, if you wish, that Nixon made a big mistake in resigning, but I think that train has left the station.
2. Lots of people (commenting here and elsewhere) believe that what happened in the OBAMA administration were a lot like what was described in point 1. Use of government resources for political ends. (Nixon: CIA tell the FBI to back off) to achieve political outcomes (Obama administration: CIA tell the FBI to investigate Trump Russia. Or DoJ use FISA court to investigate Trump associates).
3. If you are pro-Trump you are probably with me so far. But the point 3 is the essential question of whether Trump tried to use the Ukrainian phone call (a government resource) for political ends. It does seem to me that the gov't criminal investigation authority allows investigations of any criminal. A criminal cannot avoid investigations by announcing a campaign for President. But if Trump did use gov't resources for his own political ends, I need to work through the questions of whether or not this (a) not just as bad as Nixon (even if Obama was just as bad as Nixon), or (b) different from Nixon.
Trump said ...
"We're going to produce phenomenal health care, and we already have the concept of the plan"
Apparently that 'phenomenal' plan involved taking health insurance from minors:
400,000 more children are uninsured since Trump took office
Looking at a gray lake is not like looking into a gray ocean. Gray lakes allow you to see the land on the other side. A gray ocean is an abyss.
Any predictions on the impeachment investigation vote? Will it be held?
Speaking of funny fake news -
"Aztec breakthrough: Archaeologists discover shock tunnel world hidden beneath Mexico City"
"ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered a secret Aztec tunnel world nestled below the busy streets of Mexico’s capital city."
The "shock" "secret" "tunnel world" "nestled below the busy streets of Mexico City" is a 27 foot long water-drainage tunnel that was destroyed by Hernan Cortes, located about 12 miles outside Mexico City.
Over at Slate it seems that Dahlia Lithwick is swearing off of the SCOTUS beat because Kavanaugh. Not clear whether her absence will be felt more than that of political ads on Twitter.
🐝 https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-gives-chewbacca-long-awaited-medal-for-heroic-acts-in-battle-of-yavin
’That is why today, in private rooms and trusted conversations, the consensus among Republicans in Congress across the board is “who needs this?”’
Has Mr. Israel noticed that Trump has more than 90% approval from Republican voters? Who needs this, he asks? Every elected GOP official in DC, that’s who...
The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that. Who do they want to testify who has relevant info?
"Feelings...Nothing More Than Feelings"
According to reports from Catherine Herridge, when Vindman was asked
to point to the language in the transcript that indicated any "demand",
he struggled with it for a few minutes and then said he "FELT"
because it's the POTUS on the call!
per the twatter acct of the inimitable @RoscoeBDavis1
Things arent looking great for ARM. He's pivoting back to healthcare!!
Hey ARM, havent you heard? Every single dem is going to force every single American off their current plans and shove them into horrific socialized medicine so that the dems can give free health care ti illegals!!
Please, please please make healthcare a primary issue for 2020 with THAT plan.
Seriously, please.
My favorite part?
Biden admitted publicly that the dems pkans will require large tax increases for the middle class...
....while taking away their healthcare...
....and giving free healthcare to illegals!!
LOLOLOLOL
No more democrat commies "hiding the ball". Now its all out there.
Perfect.
steve uhr: "The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that."
The dems voted against this.
All witnesses have to be approved by Schiff-ty.
And just today the dems voted against allowing exculpatory evidence to be transmitted from the Soviet Dem Intel committee to the Soviet Judiciary committee.
Because of course they did.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty alone will determine which hearings are public and which hearings are held in secret.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty alone gets to determine which non-public testimony gets released to the public.
Further, Adam Schiff-ty gets to direct wutnesses as to which republican question will be answered and which one the witnesses dont have to answer.
From just this week we see why: Eric Ciaramella is "the whistleblower", and he is a classic far left deep state hack.
- Registered Democrat
- Worked for Obama
- Worked for Biden
- Worked for CIA Director John Brennan
- ***He literally worked with DNC operative Alexandra Chalupa in 2016 in Ukraine to dig up dirt on Manafort and Trump
Yes. You read that correctly.
Ciaramella, the dems "star witness/whistleblower", is literally guilty of doing what the dems are falsely accusing Trump of doing.
Literally.
Unexpectedly.
And finally, Adam Schiff-ty ALONE will determine what is included in the committees final report.
If all of this strikes you as a scenario where Adam Schiff-ty gets to be the line investigator, prosecutor, defense attorney, judge AND jury here, congratulations. You've seen right thru the dems shenanigans.
1029PMCDT, responding to h's response to my comments about S. Cohen and The Nation.
No argument, the case stands on its own.
Narr
Can you slam-dunk while standing?
Speaking of Katie Hill; I find it a bit interesting that we haven't heard anything about her from The Squad. Nor have we heard anything from Tlaib or Omar about al-Bagdadi's demise.
Wonder if Nancy's found a way to keep them on a short leash?
Uhr
Rebuttal witnesses. To impeach credibility.
Biden is yammering about how he understands what it is like to pay off student loan debt. I guess that means he is going to get everybody’s kid a no show job on an overseas corporate board.
Every regulation put on colleges and universities requires additional administration and raises the cost of tuition. Maybe that’s something the President can actually do something about.
@h, regarding your point #3, does it change your calculations once you realize that in most respects Joe Biden would be the easiest of the leading candidates to take down? Get on YouTube and search for “creepy Joe Biden.” Unless YouTube has taken them down there are literally scores of clips of him inappropriately touching wives and young daughters of men who have their families with them on stage as they are bring honored. I do not think it appropriate for seventy year old men to place their hands on the side of a teenaged girl do that his fingertips brush her breast. I’m a septuagenarian myself, and it’s nothing I would do in private, much less on stage in front of cameras. Add in gaffes where he can to even remember which state he’s in, episodes of him losing his train of thought, and other demonstrations of senility, and he’d be lucky to carry his home state or Delaware. And Ukraine is surely not the only episode of Biden corruption, merely the one where he bragged about it on camera and in front of witnesses.
Donald Trump is not like Nixon. Like it or not (and I gather you don’t) Trump has not merely the right to cooperate with foreign governments to root out corruption; Under the Constitution he has an obligation to do so.
They say Jeffrey Epstein was smart, but obviously not. He could have ended all his troubles with a few simple words. “I declare my candidacy for president of the United States.”
The Nationals deserve the win. Their fans do not.
World Series champs, do do do do do
World Series champs, do do do do do
World Series champs, do do do do do
World Series champs!!!
An odd treat. The theme to Fireball XL5
2 minutes
https://youtu.be/F8C8pyuOO5U
Replying to Big Mike: My instinct at this point is to support Trump in 2020. But I am trying to avoid a "Trump-Yay" attitude. And I have (in my personal history) taken positions that would oppose Nixon and Obama for the reasons stated in my earlier post. What I am looking for (or considering) is reasonable arguments that what Trump did (in terms of using executive branch resources for political gain) is (a) not true -- not what Trump did or (b) it is what Trump did but not as bad as Nixon (or Obama). But you won't convince me by saying "Trump did it, but Obama did too." If I had known what the Obama administration did (what I think they did) when he was President, I would have supporting impeachment and removal of Obama. Obama was very clever in keeping these actions under wraps and at third hand removed. l
Ken B. Wow. I think that's what everyone needs to consider when they want to pursue the argument that Trump can't use the executive branch authority to pursue a political opponent. If we accept that tenet, then any criminal can avoid prosecution by declaring candidacy.
“…Then there is the role of the CIA under John Brennan. …The New York Times includes the curious claim that Durham has asked interview subjects “whether C.I.A. officials might have somehow tricked the F.B.I. into opening the Russia investigation. …”
The interesting thing there is that there is plenty of evidence that the FBI was working with the CIA on this. Joseph Misfyp helped train both CIA and FBI agents at his LINK Campus, so pretty much everyone involved knew that he was western intelligence and not a Russian asset. There have long been rumors that Peter Strzok was dual hatted, working for both agencies at the same time. Regardless, he was well known to Brennan, and was personally selected by him to work on the Intelligence Committee Assessment that (falsely and fraudulently) determined that the Russians had hacked the DNC server. By Strzok’s text messages with Page, it is fairly obvious that he in particular, and the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division in general, knew all about the Steele Dossier, and were waiting with great anticipation to receive it from the CIA through proper channels. This, btw, was a humorous place in the text messages, with him coming back victorious from London, and Page and her boss, McCabe, were maneuvering to get briefed on it before he briefed his immediate boss, Bil Priestrap.
In any case, that statement suggests that USA Durham seems more interested, at least there, in nailing the CIA for the entire SpyGate scandal, pretending, maybe, that the FBI and their DOJ were innocent dupes in the whole matter. This should be sending shivers of fear coursing up and down Brennan’s back right now, knowing that in a bureaucratic fight, people owing allegiance to the DOJ (Barr and Durham) would almost invariably try to put as much blame as possible on other agencies. Making things esp dangerous for the CIA, Barr has full declassification authority, which breaches their primary defense against being held accountable by claiming everything is classified (with the ownership of the classified information owned by the DNI, and thus normally out of reach by the DOJ). And, since this is now a criminal investigation, pretty much anything that the CIA (and ODNI) might do to stymie the investigation can be prosecuted as Obstruction of Justice.
This should be interesting. Making it more so, it is likely to roll out next spring and summer.
“ 3. If you are pro-Trump you are probably with me so far. But the point 3 is the essential question of whether Trump tried to use the Ukrainian phone call (a government resource) for political ends. It does seem to me that the gov't criminal investigation authority allows investigations of any criminal. A criminal cannot avoid investigations by announcing a campaign for President. But if Trump did use gov't resources for his own political ends, I need to work through the questions of whether or not this (a) not just as bad as Nixon (even if Obama was just as bad as Nixon), or (b) different from Nixon.”
Of course, the transcript has been out almost from the first. The Dems are essentially constrained to argue that it felt like pressure from Trump to investigate Biden, despite that fairly obviously not being found in the text of the call. And we are back to where we were with Mueller, arguing for Obstruction, because one of Trump’s motives for the actions laid out in the Mueller Report might not have been legitimate, when the actual standard is just the opposite, that a plausible legitimate reason for an action effectively negates the required specific intent. Mueller’s Lawfare misinterpretation of the Obstrution statute isn’t the law, and likely never will be. Similarly, imputing an improper motive, amongst several legitimate and proper motives doesn’t make a quid pro quo deal with the Ukrainians criminal (or a High Crime or Misdemeanor).
I wanted to follow up a bit with my comments on Joseph Misfyp. In the 4 Carter Page FISA warrant applications, he was described as a Russian asset, or working for the Russian government. And that is highly unlikely. If it had been true, then it would have been one of the biggest western intelligence breaches of the last several decades, because of his long experience teaching western intelligence analysts and agents - not just FBI and CIA, but the people for a number of other western intelligence agencies too. And he knew a lot of the higher ups in intelligence agencies throughout Europe, as well as the US.
What has long appeared to have been the case, it appears likely that retired British spy, Stephen Halper, on a very lucrative consulting contract with an obscure DOD intelligence agency, was running both Misfyp and Alexander Downer, the Australian ambassador to the UK, as assets. Misfyp sought out Carter Page and told him that the Russians had Crooked Hillary’s 35,000 missing emails. And then later Alexander sought out Page, and got him (Page) to tell him (Alexander) what Misfyp had told him, about the Russians having Clinton’s missing emails. There are a number of photos on the Internet showing the three of them together, in various combinations. Those photos alone are strong indicia that the whole thing was a setup from Day 1.
It was critical for the FBI cabal acquiring the FISA warrants on Carter Page that Misfyp be a Russian, and not western intelligence asset, because that is essentially jurisdictional under FISA. It has to be alleged (and certified) that the foreign contact be working for one of our enemies in order for him to legally be targeted by FISA Title 1 warrant. Showing that the certification was false, because they all knew that Misfyp was a western intelligence asset, collapse the entire Crossfire Hurricane investigation, as well as the justification for the Mueller investigation. And that very much looks like where we are right now - the predicate for the spying on Page, and through him, Trump and his close associates, was falsified. That means that the entire predicate for spying was concocted, most likely by Brennan and the CIA, with full knowledge by the FBI and DOJ.
The republicans want the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in the impeachment inquiry. I’m okay with that. Who do they want to testify who has relevant info?
They would begin with the whistleblower.
Any credible investigation would.
A downloadable copy of my new song "I Ain't The One" which includes the lyric "I ain't the one called Trump a buffoon and then lost to the nigga like I spoke too soon."
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybaywez5flig6yb/01%20I%20Ain%27t%20The%20One.m4a?dl=0
What I am looking for (or considering) is reasonable arguments that what Trump did (in terms of using executive branch resources for political gain) is (a) not true -- not what Trump did or (b) it is what Trump did but not as bad as Nixon (or Obama)
Did Trump have the right to gather exculpatory evidence since he was under, and still is, investigation for soliciting election Russian interference when Ukraine has officially admitted to being pressured to interfere in the election by the Obama administration.
If you don’t think that Trump had a right to look into election interference coming out of Ukraine in 2016, which I will be happy to document.... again...., as a matter of national security, then I guess you have made up your mind.
Personally, I think that whatever information comes out of wherever as long as it really doesn’t harm national security, is fine, as long as it is true. A test that the stuff Obama’s CIA and FBI came out with fails. The Manafort stuff was apparently true, IDK. But Trump is facing removal(not really) for something that Obama and Hillary are plainly guilty of.
Once again, happy to provide links if you really care.
But you won't convince me by saying "Trump did it, but Obama did too."
But that’s not “replying to Big Mike” because I wrote nothing of the kind. Go reread what I wrote at 12:15. I made two points, the first being that Joe Biden would be an easy candidate to beat. You may disagree, but you’d be wrong. Trump can blanket the airwaves with ads showing Biden inappropriately touching little girls, with evidence that Biden is senile, and with evidence that Biden is corrupt. Would you vote for a man like that? Well, perhaps you would. At any rate, the first part of my argument is that Trump has no reason at this point to want Biden knocked out of the race.
The second part of my argument is essentially what you wrote to Ken B. at 12:19. How is Trump different from Nixon? Nixon tried to prevent a crime from being investigated. Trump is trying to have a probable case of corruption that was covered up be reopened and investigated by the proper authorities, even though it potentially could be to the detriment of his re-election.
Did I miss Ann revealing who she voted for in 2016 as she promised?
Sorry. I posted at 11:06, not 12:15.
My dog who ignores squirrels and rabbits pretty much and wild ducks and wild geese goes crazy, apparently over armadillos. Waking me up in the middle of the night barking at one, and still excited to hunt around for it in the morning.
Here's the lyrics (considering the older folks):
I ain’t the one said “Slavery was a choice”
then start a cult like it’s a new voice
I ain’t the one said “the Earth was flat”
That shit went away and then came back
I ain’t the one said “Jesus is returning -
I believe in Heaven and in Hell people’s burning”
I ain’t the one saying “No to reparations”
expecting devotion/saluting the nation
I ain’t the one went to university
just to find out I’m a tool for “diversity”
I ain’t the one backed The Central Park Five
Believing in a movie - believing in a lie
I ain’t the one that “just say ‘no’”
then turn around and legalize weed, yo
I ain’t the one that care about the planet
but care about holidays more, damn it
I ain’t the one x4 Chorus:
I don’t think you understand, Nigga
Crack Emcee’s the Burning Man, Nigga
Shit gonna change - overnight
Resistance becomes a fight
Y’all gonna make some brand new plans, Nigga
I ain’t the one who called Trump a “buffoon”
Then lost to the nigga like I spoke too soon
I ain’t the one who made Oprah a star
Helping every con artist in the world go far
I ain’t the one who’s a Hillary fan
Brought back slavery to Libya, Man
I ain’t the one announcing he’s gay
After that got nothing else to say
I ain’t the one x4 Chorus
That’s why I say “Come on, riot!”
I ain’t the one told Madonna she’s an actor
Put Kabballah water in a nuclear reactor
I ain’t the one that’s backing psychics
Ruining your lives and then act like you like it
I ain’t the one that wore pussy hats
Grown women protest like pussy cats
I ain’t the one go to Whole Paycheck
And then come back, wonder what did I get?
I ain’t the one trying to end the patriarchy
Just so I can start some brand new malarky
I ain’t the one that says intuition
Is something that men must be missing
I ain’t the one that’s into misandry
trying to pretend no one understands me
I ain’t the one conversating about race
As I try to take over a place
I ain’t the one x4
I ain’t the one invented 57 genders
then gets mad when no one remembers
I ain’t the one said “Women on top”
And then had a son before this bullshit stop
I ain’t the one said we’re dead in 10 years
back in ’89, seeing we’re still here
I ain’t the one said “We have to go vegan”
When that shit’s debunked with President Reagan
I ain’t the one said “Quit the vaccines”
Making kids sick, making folks mean
I ain’t the one said we had to “go organic”
Raise the price of food, putting niggas in a panic
I ain’t the one that quit chiropractic
Then had a stroke because your spine ain’t elastic
I ain’t the one x4 Chorus
That’s why I say “Come on, riot!”
“The Little House was very happy as she sat on the hill and watched the countryside around her. She watched the sun rise in the morning and she watched the sun set in the evening. Day followed day, each one a little different from the one before . . . but the Little House stayed just the same.”
– Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House
"Did I miss Ann revealing who she voted for in 2016 as she promised?"
Yes.
@Otto, yes. She voted the creep Bill Clinton married. Solidarity.
I am stealing malarky/patriarchy.
Skylark,
Cool. Check this shit out:
A record I did with Duff McKagen (of Guns & Roses) is selling for almost $300.00!!!
I'm awesome.
I forgot to put the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Havin-Riot-Various-Artists/dp/B000KKQMOS
911AMCDT. Last comment TCE's 817AM to Skylark.
Skylark, squirrels and chipmunks still excite my little dackel, but what really gets him going is the 'possum that blunders through a few times a year.
Remarkable critters, possums. Their body temperature is lower than most mammals so they don't carry as many harmful-to-humans illnesses as most, especially raccoons. A treed 'possum is one of the few things that can keep the dog out barking for hours, even in the cold.
Narr
Even at 3am
Narr said...
Remarkable critters, possums.
I hit a possum who was crossing the road at night.
He's been called up, and is now playing possum in the big leagues.
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