Tag: Political Circus

An “Ethical Crisis”

For years now many of us here in the blogosphere have been telling the world that there was a moral and ethical crisis within our Supreme Court….now a report has been issued but it will be attacked as misinformation and just naysayers popping off.

Some of the judges have been taking favors from special interests and some have been openly partisan and others….well you get the jest….

The report of which I spoke….

A report released Saturday by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee after a 20-month investigation declares the Supreme Court “has mired itself in an ethical crisis of its own making.” The report lists a series of ethical lapses and failures and estimates the value of gifts accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas in the millions of dollars. “The number, value, and extravagance of the gifts accepted by Justice Thomas have no comparison in modern American history,” the report says, per the Washington Post. Those gifts sometimes came from people with issues before the court, it adds.

Congress needs to enact an enforceable ethics code that would provide for an independent panel to review complaints, the report says. The committee approved such a bill this year along party lines, per NBC News, but Republicans prevented a Senate vote. “It’s clear that the justices are losing the trust of the American people at the hands of a gaggle of fawning billionaires,” Chairman Dick Durbin said in a statement. Republicans on the committee did not take part in the investigation.

The report lists previously documented gifts as well as free travel by Thomas that hadn’t been disclosed, including a yacht trip to New York City sponsored by Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and Thomas benefactor. Thomas did not answer investigators’ inquiries but previously maintained he wasn’t obligated to report many gifts because they were covered by a “personal hospitality” exemption in force at the time. As polls have shown its public popularity falling, the court approved an ethics code a year ago, per the Post, that has no enforcement mechanism.

More than few people have been calling for some sort of true reform of SCOTUS….from term limits to retirement age to recusal mandatory when appropriate….things need to change the court is NO longer the ‘referee’ of our government but the spokesman for one party.

This is just a wish list as we head into yet another dismal 4 years and all I can do is just fight back as I see fit.

When I read the report I thought ‘seriously?  How long did it take to come up with this conclusion?  A conclusion that many already have.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

McCarthy’s Genital Massages

This is not a post on some political perversion….nope it is about what hoops McCarty had to jump through to secure his Speakership from the GOP hold-outs.

It appears that the negotiations were a bit of a secret….

A private document that only some House Republicans have seen and others refuse to talk about could play an outsized role in the governance of the chamber over the next two years.

Why it matters: The document contains concessions — not included in the rules package passed on Monday night — that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made to rebellious Freedom Caucus members to secure the speaker’s gavel.

  • Those members have threatened to kill McCarthy’s speakership as swiftly as they acquiesced to it if he reneges on their handshake agreements.

Driving the news: The existence of a “secret three-page addendum” containing “the most controversial concessions” that McCarthy made in order to get elected was first reported by Punchbowl News on Monday and confirmed to Axios by multiple GOP aides and members.

  • One of those concessions is three seats set aside for conservatives on the Rules Committee, as well as representation for them on the powerful Appropriations Committee.
  • Other McCarthy giveaways include votes on congressional term limits and a select committee on the weaponization of the federal government, a debt limit strategy and a more open amendment process on appropriations bills.
  • One thing the document doesn’t contain, according to NRCC Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), who said he’s seen it, is promised committee chairmanships for specific members: “No names, just representation [on panels].”

https://www.axios.com/2023/01/10/republicans-mccarthy-house-rules-addendum

What did McCarthy promise?

Rep. Kevin McCarthy finally seized the House speaker’s gavel in the early hours of Saturday morning, capping off a chaotic week of voting and heated floor confrontations that were nationally televised and closely documented by reporters stationed at the U.S. Capitol.

What remains less clear, though, is how much McCarthy (R-Calif.) conceded to his far-right detractors behind closed doors to win enough support to prevail on the 15th ballot—raising urgent questions and warnings about the havoc the House GOP could wreak in the coming months.

“What did McCarthy promise to get the collaboration of extremists?” Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) asked over the weekend. “The future of Social Security and Medicare? Our nation’s full faith and credit? Keeping our government open?”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/mccarthy-backroom-deals-gop

Why was this a secret that he could not share with the rest of the GOP members?

This is so typical of the ‘backroom deals’….

But for the lazy

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“lego ergo scribo”

“A Sucker Born Every Minute”

Those words uttered 100 years ago ring more accurate today than they did when first uttered.

Are you into trading cards…..football, baseball, basketball, etc?

If you are then there is a new scam for those with more money than brains.

Donald Trump teased an upcoming “major announcement” Wednesday on Truth Social, and on Thursday he unveiled it. His 2024 running mate, perhaps? Nope, Trump is selling what he calls “digital trading cards” featuring none other than himself, reports the Washington Examiner. “These limited edition cards feature amazing ART of my Life & Career! Collect all of your favorite Trump Digital Trading Cards, very much like a baseball card, but hopefully much more exciting,” reads his social media post. The NFT cards cost $99 each, and examples on the CollectTrumpCards.com website feature Trump as a superhero, an astronaut, a NASCAR driver, etc.

Those who buy one are entered into a sweepstakes with a prize of having dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and those who buy 45 cards (Trump was the 45th president) are guaranteed a dinner invitation. “Buy one and you will join a very exclusive community,” says Trump in an accompanying video, per Mediaite. “It’s my community and I think it’s something you’re going to like and you’re going to like it a lot.” One digital version of the president is adorned in a Superman-like costume that features the letter “T” instead of “S.” When he recovered from COVID as president, Trump reportedly pitched the idea of ripping off his dress shirt to reveal a Superman shirt underneath.

Being reported (not verified by me) that the mailing address for the company that is issuing these cards is Mar-a-Lago.

This endeavor will probably go down with the Trump steaks, water, wine, vodka as dismal failures.

Any thoughts on this endeavor?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

2022 Mid-Term Cheat Sheet

The Queen is buried and now we return the mundane crap of our upcoming mid-terms…..there seems to be very little interest in these elections….is that because everyone could care less who controls Congress and therefore our country?

About 33 days and time for you to vote…..maybe now would be a good time to start paying some damn attention….(just a thought)….

For those that are truly interested in the direction of this country I offer up the Vox cheat sheet…..

The 2022 midterm elections are fast approaching, and right now, they’re anything but straightforward.

While Republicans were once favored to win a large House majority and even retake the Senate, things are looking more promising for Democrats as voters across the country have been energized by the issue of abortion rights.

With less than two months to go, there’s a lot that’s still uncertain, from how much Democrats can buck historic trends to just how big a role inflation will continue to play. Here are nine questions — many submitted by readers — that look at the factors in each party’s favor, the policies voters are focused on, and the long-term consequences these elections could have. If you have midterms questions you’d like answered, please submit them in the form below.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/9/12/23344632/midterms-2022-elections-key-house-senate-races-control-congress

What will a GOP win actually mean?

With the midterm elections less than two months away, Republicans are strongly favored to win a majority of seats in the House. Democrats, for now, are expected to keep control of the Senate, though some of the contests — particularly Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada — could be particularly close.

With President Joe Biden’s veto power, the implications of Republicans reclaiming one or both chambers in Congress will have more to do with blunting a Democratic policy agenda than swiftly enacting conservative priorities.

But if they do win power, what do Republicans want to do with it? If you’ve had some trouble figuring that out, you’re not alone. It’s been confusing. Different factions within the party are competing for the agenda-setting mantle, and it’s been a long time since Republicans wrote a unified policy and governing platform. When they tried at their 2020 national convention, they ended up scrapping their plans. Instead, they kept their 2016 platform, and avoided an anticipated fight with Donald Trump over a new one.

Even the right-leaning magazine National Review observed recently that “Republicans are doing little to explain what they would have the government do differently if they took power.” There has been a mix of proposals introduced with varying degrees of specificity, and previews of the intraparty fights we might see over the next few years.

It’s always easier for a party to appear united when they’re in the minority, but if Republicans reclaim power, they will have the much harder task of needing to unite around a real agenda. That’s when they’ll have to make real decisions on issues like abortion bans, civil rights, rollbacks of environmental protections, and welfare subsidies.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/9/14/23347145/republicans-midterms-2023-gop-agenda

There is much to be concerned over with these elections….but sadly I look for many Americans to be on the sidelines because it is just too hard for them to actually care about the country and its people.

If you do not vote then keep your mouth shut…..because you were lazy the country slides further down the crap hole.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

06Jan21–What To Expect

The Georgia election and the the theater of the absurd in the Congress…..

Today is the big day….the day when idiots will try to shanghai the Constitution and attempt to not certify the Biden win of the presidency.

But what can we expect from the Congress/

By now, everyone knows the drill: Congress meets Wednesday to formally certify the electoral college results, with VP Mike Pence scheduled to preside. This is normally routine stuff, with the joint session lasting all of 23 minutes in 2013 and 41 minutes in 2017, notes CBS News. But the 2021 version is expected to last all day and possibly into the wee hours of Thursday morning because of Republican objections on behalf of President Trump. Coverage:

  • The schedule: Congress convenes at 1pm Eastern, and Republicans are expected to challenge the results in six states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), per NBC News. Each objection can be debated up to two hours, meaning it’s possible the session will go longer than 12 hours.
  • The process: States are called one by one, alphabetically. If things follow the normal procedure, a clerk will hand Pence an envelope with the state’s electoral vote count, and he will read it aloud, explains the Washington Post. Congress then votes on whether to accept the results.
  • Objections: For the six states in question, one member from the House and one from the Senate must raise an objection for a challenge to proceed. At that point, the chambers break off to separately debate it. Then each chamber votes on whether to sustain the objection, with a simple majority prevailing, per NPR. It’s possible an objection might clear the Senate, though it’s all but impossible in the Democratic-controlled House. Because an objection must clear both chambers to succeed, the effort is widely seen as a futile one for Trump’s allies.
  • So far: As of Tuesday, we know this of the GOP senators: Ted Cruz will object to Arizona’s results, Josh Hawley to Pennsylvania’s, and Kelly Loeffler to Georgia’s, reports the Post.
  • Pence’s role: President Trump and his allies think otherwise, but an explainer at New York concludes that Pence doesn’t have the power to override results in favor of the president. “According to law and precedent, Pence is confined to the merely administrative chore of opening the certifications state elected officials have sent to Congress, arranging for their tabulation and then noting any challenges to a given state’s announced electors from members of Congress.”

There you have what to expect today…….more on this Day of Infamy next post.

Let the circus begin!

Be Smart!

Learn Stuff!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What Is Happening To The GOP?

This GOP is not the party that my grandfather supporter back in the 50s…..since the mid 60s it has been moving further and further away from the policies it supported back in the day.

But has Trump done anything to make the GOP a stronger party?

I say no….the reason is just watch the party nowadays….they do not seem to jump to defend the president…..only a few sycophants.

Politico reporter Jake Sherman explained in a PBS “Washington Week” discussion that it has become clear Republicans aren’t defending Trump anymore.

“Republicans have just basically decided, as we put it in Playbook, almost to just pat him on the head – Pres. Trump that is – and move on with their day. They’re no longer really twisting themselves in pretzels to defend him,” Sherman said Sunday.

Instead, they’re replying to reporters asking questions with, “we didn’t really see that” or claiming they need more information. While they still haven’t moved to be brave enough to criticize Trump, refusing to defend him is a huge step for Republicans who protected the president from a legitimate impeachment investigation.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/republicans-have-decided-they-arent-twisting-themselves-in-pretzels-to-defend-trump-anymore-report/

First I would not get too excited at this lack of defense….some of those are facing stiff elections and will do what they can to look as if they are showing some spine….they will slip back if they win.

Second there is another worrying situation within the GOP….those ultra far right candidates….

Openly fascistic candidates are gaining ground within the Republican Party, which is moving ever further to the right even as the working class and large sections of the middle class move to the left, as expressed in the demonstrations against the police murder of George Floyd.

In Georgia’s Republican primary election June 9, a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy campaign was the leading candidate for the party’s nomination in the 14th Congressional District, a seat held by Republican Tom Graves, who stepped down after five terms in office. The district, which comprises the northwest corner of Georgia, along the Alabama and Tennessee borders, is considered a safe Republican seat.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, co-owner of a local construction company, won 41 percent of the vote, more than double the vote of her closest competitor, John Cowan, a neurosurgeon and businessman. Greene is heavily favored to win the August 11 runoff election.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/15/repu-j15.html

Like I said…..worrying situation for a once proud party that is sinking into the muck and mire of far right politics.

“I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Still Steaming After All These Days

Donald the Orange is still steaming over the anemic response to his rally in Tulsa…..

The limp dick response was a perfect metaphor for the Trump presidency……but days after the fact he is still pissing and moaning……….

President Trump’s weekend rally in Tulsa did not go as planned, with a post-mortem in Politico going so far as to use the word “debacle” to describe it. Much of the negative attention is focused on campaign chief Brad Parscale, who boasted beforehand of more than 1 million requests for tickets, a far cry from the official turnout estimate of 6,200 at the downtown arena on Saturday. A sample of the fallout:

  • ‘Fox & Friends’: The usually supportive Trump show didn’t have much good to say about the rally Monday, notes Mediaite. “I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to put 20,000 people in a room with masks optional,” said co-host Steve Doocy, referring to the arena’s capacity. In fairness, added Brian Kilmeade, “as experienced as anyone is, no one has ever been through a campaign with a pandemic and civil unrest, two things out of control of Democrats and Republicans.”
  • Parscale: CNN reports that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are angry at Parscale for raising expectations too high, though the couple denies it publicly. The story quotes another adviser, anonymously, who says of Parscale and his team: “They gave adversaries and media a gift. It was overconfidence.”
  • TikTok stunt: As has been widely reported, users of TikTok have claimed credit for making bogus ticket reservations, but the true impact of that stunt is “complicated,” per an analysis in the Washington Post. It notes that both the Trump campaign and critics of Trump think the TikTok impact has been exaggerated. From the latter camp: “You’re giving way too much credit to people on social media and not nearly enough blame on Trump’s failure of a campaign for this one,” declared writer Parker Malloy. Parscale, for his part, blamed the low turnout on the media for “apocalyptic” coverage and local police for overreacting to protests and keeping supporters away.
  • Now what? Plans for future “mega-rallies” are now up in the air, according to the Politico analysis. An alternative might be smaller rallies at outdoor venues such as airports or amphitheaters. Lost in all this was that the rally was supposed to be “the kickoff in a sustained effort to sow doubt about (Joe) Biden’s capacity to be president.”
  • Trump: The New York Times has a behind-the-scenes account of rally day. One snippet: “The president, who had been warned aboard Air Force One that the crowds at the arena were smaller than expected, was stunned, and he yelled at aides backstage while looking at the endless rows of empty blue seats in the upper bowl of the stadium, according to four people familiar with what took place.” The Trump team was still dissecting the causes for the turnout, but they acknowledged (anonymously) that coronavirus fears and slipping poll numbers were at play, according to the story.

Another Trumpite will bite the dust…..

“Brad really shit the bed Saturday night. You have to remember, execution is 95% of presidential politics,” the Republican said.

Parscale may not be the only advisor to be ousted.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/trumps-campaign-manager-is-planning-to-step-down-following-disastrous-tulsa-rally-vanity-fair/

His face says it all…a metaphor for his presidency…..

(photo by Patrick Semansky)

(Poor baby….Daddy got crapped on)

For me it is a great day when Americans shun an idiot….and in closing how about  Eric Clapton/Sheryl Crow rendition of Don Williams hit…Tulsa Time…..

“lego ergo scribo”

The Rally To Die For

Yesterday Donald the Orange had his long awaited rally…..and is it truly a rally to die for?

News ahead of the rally was not promising…..

President Trump’s campaign says six staff members helping set up for his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have tested positive for coronavirus, the AP reports. The campaign’s communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement that “quarantine procedures” were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event. He said no one who had immediate contact with those staffers would attend, either. Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for COVID-19 as part of the campaign’s safety protocols. Campaign officials say everyone who is attending the rally will be given temperature checks before they pass through security. They will also be given masks to wear, if they want, and hand sanitizer at the 19,000-seat BOK Center.

The rally has gone into the history books and it was a disappointing turnout for Donald the Orange….I watched so you do not have to bother with this stuff…..

President Trump’s rally in Oklahoma Saturday night is believed to be the biggest indoor event in the US since coronavirus restrictions began—but it wasn’t quite as big as expected. There were thousands of empty seats at Tulsa’s 19,000-capacity BOK Center, though the campaign said it had received more than a million ticket requests, the Guardian reports. Trump, who spoke for almost two hours, described COVID-19 testing as a “double-edged sword.” “When you do testing to that extent … you’re going to find more cases,” he said. “So I said to my people, slow the testing down please.” A White House official later said the president, who was holding his first rally in three months, was “obviously kidding.” More:

Trump blamed protesters for turnout. Health officials warned that the rally would cause a surge in coronavirus infections—and six staff members who helped set the rally up tested positive earlier in the day—but Trump appeared to blame the turnout on protesters and the media. There were “very bad people outside, they’re doing bad things,” he said in his opening remarks. There were “some volatile scenes outside the venue but no serious trouble,” reports the BBC. Plans for Trump to address an outside “overflow area” were dropped. AP reporters said they did not see protesters block entry to the area where the rally was being held.

Familiar targets. Politico reports that Trump attacked plenty of “familiar targets” during his speech, including Joe Biden, the media, and the Washington, DC “swamp.” He referred to the coronavirus as the “China Virus” and the “Kung Flu.” He also slammed the “unhinged left wing mob” he said was “desecrating our monuments, our beautiful monuments.” “They want to demolish our heritage so they can impose their new oppressive regime in its place,” he said. Trump also called for the burning of the US flag to be made illegal

AOC: Trump was tricked by teens. Rep, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—another Trump target—poked fun at the Trump campaign over the disappointing turnout, Fox reports. “You just got ROCKED by teens on TikTok who flooded the Trump campaign w/ fake ticket reservations & tricked you into believing a million people wanted your white supremacist open mic enough to pack an arena during COVID,” she tweeted after campaign chief Brad Parscale said “radical protesters fueled by a week of apocalyptic coverage” stopped Trump supporters entering the venue.

He spoke about West Point for 14 minutes. The Washington Post reports that Trump spent more than 14 minutes—around an eighth of his speech—discussing his speech at West Point last weekend and complaining about how the media covered his slow walk down a ramp and his use of two hands to drink a glass of water. After he demonstrated that he could drink a glass of water with one hand, the crowd cheered and chanted “Four more years!”

Fact-checkers were busy. CNN fact-checks numerous statements from Trump’s speech, including his claim that Biden apologized for criticizing his China travel restrictions.

“Brief skirmishes.” Police say there were “brief skirmishes” and pepper balls were fired after Trump supporters leaving the rally clashed with protesters, but things remained largely peaceful, the Tulsa World reports

All I can say is that the rally was a Trump-centric piece of theater….a rambling collage of words and excuses….and as usual there were is adoring fans drooling on themselves…can you image that a group would be so impressed by a person drinking water with one had?

“lego ergo scribo”

House Impeachment Hearing–Day 1

As a service to my readers I will offer summary of the day’s proceedings dealing with the impeachment hearing in the House for Pres. Trump…..

The moment has arrived: The public phase of the House impeachment inquiry of President Trump began on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Democrat Adam Schiff declared at the start of the hearing that the “future of the presidency itself” is at stake, while Republican Devin Nunes called the hearings a “carefully orchestrated smear campaign.” The first two witnesses were William Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. Some highlights:

  • Another phone call: In a new piece of information, Taylor testified that a member of his staff overheard Trump ask about the “the investigations” during a phone call with diplomat Gordon Sondland, reports the AP. The call took place one day after Trump’s call to the Ukraine president in July. (Sondland and the Taylor staffer were in a restaurant together when Trump called.) During the conversation, Sondland told Trump the Ukrainians were poised to move forward. After the call, the Taylor staffer asked Sondland what Trump thought about Ukraine. “Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which (Rudy) Giuliani was pressing for,” said Taylor, per Axios.
  • More on that: Politico sees the call as “an explosive new detail,” and the Washington Post agrees, saying it ties Trump “more directly to the effort to pressure Ukraine to probe his political opponents.” Plus, it undermines Trump’s previous assertion that he barely knows Sondland. A post at Red State, though, scoffs at the idea this is significant. “Under any other circumstances a staffer claiming to have heard what a remote participant on a telephone call said in a private phone call would be laughed at,” it reads. “This kind of nonsense would not be allowed before any committee that still had a sense of shame.”
  • Trump denial: During a press conference with Turkey’s president after their Oval Office meeting, Trump denied knowledge of the overheard call. “I know nothing about that,” he said, per the AP. “First time I’ve heard it.”
  • Star witness? Taylor disputed the idea put forth by GOP Rep. Jim Jordan that he was a “star witness” for Democrats, reports the Hill. “I don’t consider myself a star witness for anything,” he said. “I’m not here to take one side or the other.” When Taylor said his “clear understanding” was that Ukraine aid and investigations were linked, Jordan shot back, “Your clear understanding was obviously wrong, because it didn’t happen.”
  • GOP strategy: In questioning Taylor about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, GOP lead counsel Steve Castor said, “You certainly can appreciate that President Trump was very concerned that some elements of the Ukrainian establishment were not in favor of him, did not support him, and were out to get him.” Schiff warned Castor about commenting on “facts not in evidence,” but eventually allowed the question, reports the Washington Post. “So you certainly can appreciate President Trump’s concerns,” repeated Castor to Taylor, who responded, “I don’t know the exact nature of President Trump’s concerns.”

*******Let me help my readers out….the timeline for the aid thing….

THE TIMELINE July 18: Trump withholds military aid July 25: Trump demands Biden probe from Ukraine Sept 1: Sondland tells Ukraine aid contingent on probe Sept 9: Congress learns of whistleblower report exposing bribery scheme Sept 11: Military aid is magically released********

  • About Biden: When Kent was asked if there was any truth to the theory that Joe Biden pushed Ukraine to fire a prosecutor in order to protect his son, he answered, “None whatsoever,” per the Wall Street Journal. However, Kent confirmed that he reported his concerns about Hunter Biden serving on the board of a Ukraine gas company as a possible conflict of interest during the Obama-Biden administration.
  • More from Kent: He shot down the conspiracy theory, one pushed by the White House, that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election. “I think it’s amply clear that Russian interference was at the heart of the interference.”
  • Opening statements: Kent’s opening statement is here, Taylor’s is here, Nunes’ is here, and Schiff’s is here.
  • A ‘sham’: Before the hearings began, Trump lashed out in a series of morning tweets. “Millions of Americans will see what a partisan sham this whole thing is,” Trump wrote, quoting Rush Limbaugh. Trump also called out “NEVER TRUMPERS!” For the record, both witnesses denied they were “never Trumpers” during testimony. Trump later retweeted a number of Republican tweets denouncing the inquiry, and retweeted a White House tweet declaring, “New hoax. Same swamp.”
  • “Shadow war”: The AP reports a “shadow disinformation war” was already underway before the hearing began, and rounds up the intense social media scrutiny of the proceedings.
  • Was the POTUS tuning in? Trump told reporters during his meeting with Erdogan that he wasn’t watching the proceedings, a statement he reiterated later during their press conference. “I hear it’s a joke. I haven’t watched for one minute because I’ve been with the president” of Turkey, he said. He added that he wants to know the identity of the whistleblower whose complaint launched the impeachment inquiry.
  • As for the whistleblower: Schiff had said earlier Wednesday the House Intelligence Committee would take up a motion to issue a congressional subpoena to compel the whistleblower to appear behind closed doors, but ultimately that motion was tabled after Taylor and Kent finished testifying. Their testimony lasted five hours.
  • What’s next: Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, who was ousted in May on Trump’s orders, will testify Friday. Next week will see eight more witnesses testifying.
  • Takeaways from Wednesday: The AP has a few here.

THe GOP on the committee did just as I said they would….tried to turn the hearing into a circus staffed with clowns…..Nunes did not disappoint…..Jordan did not disappoint……the GOP has nothing to counter the evidence other than wanting a whistleblower’s name….that tells me the evidence must be spot on if they cannot counter it.

The first day is in the can….now we have a whole day for the MSM to analyze and the pundits to earn their money…..hearing to return Friday.

I Read, I Wrote, You Know

“Lego Ergo Scribo”

Rudy–Everyone’s Crazy Uncle Bob

Nudge nudge, wink wink, Bob’s your uncle.

No matter which side of the debate your are on we have to admit that Trump’s lawyer Rudy is acting and sounding like your crazy Uncle Bob…you know the one….he is the one that has an opinion on everything and is loud and usually wrong.

But is Rudy still Trump’s personal lawyer?  The question for the week……..

Rudy Giuliani remains in the hot seat over his dealings in Ukraine for President Trump, with a reported federal investigation into his lobbying and his role in undermining the ex-American ambassador to Ukraine. Now, President Trump is not only saying he doesn’t know the two Giuliani associates who were arrested this week for campaign finance violations—he doesn’t even seem 100% sure what role Giuliani still plays in his sphere. As the president left the White House Friday to head to a rally in Louisiana, a reporter asked him if Giuliani was still his personal attorney, and Trump waffled a bit. “Well, I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to Rudy,” he responded. “I spoke to him yesterday briefly, uh, he’s a very good attorney, and he has been my attorney, yeah, sure.”

That’s all he said on that, but the Washington Post notes Giuliani had a more definitive answer. “Yes. I am still his attorney,” the ex-New York City mayor texted to the paper’s Josh Dawsey. A source said to be close to Trump’s legal team tells CNN that Giuliani is indeed still the president’s lawyer, but that he won’t be handling anything involving Ukraine. Giuliani’s own words to the news outlet: “There are no Ukraine issues. I finished that in March. I’m still representing him.” The White House declined to comment on the whole matter. Meanwhile, sources tell Politico that others in Trump’s sphere want Giuliani out of there, his “long-winded monologues” and “freewheeling accusations” a liability to the president. “Rudy Giuliani needs to stop talking,” an ex-campaign official says.

But The Donald does not sound so sure of it……

I hear people say that Rudy has been driven to these antics because of his failed presidential attempt……he had put all the goodwill of being the mayor of NYC on 9/11 and it was not enough…he was rudderless after that….

But I do not agree…I think he has always been a nut case he just has the chance now to make it more pronounced…..and to display his nutcase wisdom.

And I am not alone in this thought…..

I will be the hero! These morons—when this is over, I will be the hero…. Anything I did should be praised.”

These are the words of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, speaking of the government operative who leaked information about the president’s conversations with the Ukrainian president that has led to impeachment proceedings. Out of context, they appear to be narcissistic ravings. In context, they are just another installment of the constant refrain Americans are used to hearing from the president’s lead defender. No matter how unhinged Giuliani sounds in one interview, the cameras go back to him again and again.

The regular media meltdowns have almost become a real-time comedy for US news consumers, although it has all taken a serious turn. He’s now the focus of the impeachment probes as well; two of his associates were recently arrested.

US media are asking: How could this happen? How did a two-term mayor of a major city, previously a famous federal prosecutor, and someone thought to be a future president, once lauded for reducing crime in New York City and serving as a rallying figure after the World Trade Center attacks, turn into such a primetime clown of the Trump era? How could a crime fighter become the center of criminal intrigue?

Actually, Rudy Giuliani Has Always Been Like This

He has always thought the country owes him something for being the mayor of NYC on 9/11……

We owe him NOTHING!  He is getting a feee ride on the taxpayer dime.  Debt paid!

I Read, I Wrote, You Know

“Lego Ergo Scribo”