All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[Tami]

Is Trump just too dumb to do crimes? Here's why that defense won't fly

Donald Trump is angry that his allies think he's a nimrod, at least according to Asawin Suebsaeng of the Daily Beast. White House sources have told Suebsaeng that Trump is privately whining that "people should stop saying he’s too dumb or incompetent to do crimes," and bragging that he is, on the contrary, totally smart enough to escape accountability for his criminal behavior.

The immediate impetus for this tantrum is a Wall Street editorial last week that, with a stench of desperation detectable even through a computer screen, argued that Trump can't possibly be guilty of making quid pro quo demands for political assistance in exchange for military aid from the Ukrainian leadership because he is, quite literally, too stupid to pull such a thing off.

[Dalak]

As Bevin Refuses to Concede, Critics Warn Kentucky GOP 'Totally Gearing Up to Steal' Gubernatorial Election

Case in point.

[Tami]

Trump wanted Barr to hold news conference saying the president broke no laws in call with Ukrainian leader

President Trump wanted Attorney General William P. Barr to hold a news conference declaring that the commander in chief had broken no laws during a phone call in which he pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate a political rival, though Barr ultimately declined to do so, people familiar with the matter said.

The request from Trump traveled from the president to other White House officials and eventually to the Justice Department. The president has mentioned Barr’s declination to associates in recent weeks, saying he wished Barr would have held the news conference, Trump advisers say.

In recent weeks, the Justice Department has sought some distance from the White House, particularly on matters relating to the burgeoning controversy over Trump’s dealings on Ukraine and the impeachment inquiry they sparked.

People close to the administration say Barr and Trump remain on good terms. A senior administration official said Trump praised the attorney general publicly and privately Wednesday, and deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement: “The President has nothing but respect for AG Barr and greatly appreciates the work he’s done on behalf of the country — and no amount of shady sources with clear intent to divide, smear, and slander will change that.”

But those close to the administration also concede that the department has made several recent maneuvers putting it at odds with the White House at a particularly precarious time for the president. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the politically fraught situation.

The request for the news conference came sometime around Sept. 25, when the administration released a rough transcript of the president’s July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The document showed that Trump urged Zelensky to investigate former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter — while dangling a possible White House visit for the foreign leader.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

If anyone was expecting Republican women to abandon Trump, you can stop.



https://www.opensecrets.org/news/rep...n-women-donors

Being Republican means hating women, even if you are one.

[Kirby101]

If anyone was expecting Republican women to abandon Trump, you can stop.


https://www.opensecrets.org/news/rep...n-women-donors

Being Republican means hating women, even if you are one.

Without comparing this to 2016, or seeing how suburban women voted yesterday, this chart is meaningless.

[Gray Lensman]

If anyone was expecting Republican women to abandon Trump, you can stop.



https://www.opensecrets.org/news/rep...n-women-donors

Being Republican means hating women, even if you are one.

Independent women can still be swayed, though.

[Theleviathan]

Independent women can still be swayed, though.

2018 wouldn't have happened with suburban women. Black women carried some huge contests recently as well.

[AnakinFlair]

Look who is trying to make a comeback.

What are the odds he pulls it off?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

Bill Gates won't commit to backing Warren over Trump.

Then, Sorkin posed a scenario which, for the moment, is a hypothetical — albeit one which appears to have more of a chance of happening by the day. The Times writer asked Gates who he would back in a general election: Warren or President Donald Trump.

And despite being a vocal Trump critic in the past, Gates would not commit to supporting Warren to defeat the president.

“I’m not going to make political declarations,” Gates said. “But I do think no matter what policy somebody has in mind … whoever I decide will have the more professional approach in the current situation, probably is the thing I will weigh the most. And I hope that the more professional candidate is an electable candidate.”

Even if Bill Gates did have to pay 100 billion dollars, he'd still be a billionaire and among the 0.0001% richest people on the planet, but that's not good enough for him and he's willing to keep Trump in power to prevent that.

Never fall for the good billionaire act.

[jetengine]

Bill Gates won't commit to backing Warren over Trump.



Even if Bill Gates did have to pay 100 billion dollars, he'd still be a billionaire and among the 0.0001% richest people on the planet, but that's not good enough for him and he's willing to keep Trump in power to prevent that.

Never fall for the good billionaire act.

Whilst I do agree, as a buisnessman he has to be pragmatic. But yeah, this is shitty behaviour.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Is Trump just too dumb to do crimes? Here's why that defense won't fly

For Trump with his colossal ego, being called stupid is far worse than being called crazy. No way in hell he'd sign off on THAT defense.

If anyone was expecting Republican women to abandon Trump, you can stop.



https://www.opensecrets.org/news/rep...n-women-donors

Being Republican means hating women, even if you are one.

No mention of Democrats, nor races or age ranges. Short and sweet, this list is meaningless.

====================

Exclusive: Book Claims Senior Officials Believed Pence Would Support Use Of 25th Amendment

The anonymous author of “A Warning,” reportedly a current or former White House official, said talk of removing Trump escalated after Comey was fired. Yeah, that would put him in the big chair, so, why not?

**********

Joe Biden Tells K Street Fundraiser: GOP Will Have ‘Epiphany’ After Trump

“Mark my words. Mark my words.” Sorry, Joe, but you're horribly misguided and just plain wrong. The GOP had gone batshit insane before Trump came along and will probably be even worse after he leaves. Case in point....

**********

Republicans Defend Trump After Top Diplomats Confirm Quid Pro Quo

They previously insisted there was no quid pro quo in the president’s Ukraine phone call. Clearly the GOP will ride or die with the Orange Menace. Go right ahead, boys!

**********

Kentucky Dems: ‘No Way’ GOP Legislature Will Decide Close Governor’s Race

A top Republican suggested the legislature could decide the outcome after Gov. Matt Bevin disputed Democrat Andy Beshear’s apparent victory. No way in hell should that be allowed to happen!

**********

Football Coach Resigns After Yelling ‘White Power,’ Calling Players By Racial Slur In Video

Former assistant football coach John Hoskins told reporters, “Just to set the record, I’m not racist. I don’t mean it in a negative way.” I call bullshit on that claim. Go away, you shitstain.

[worstblogever]

On this date in 2014, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profiled former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who was elected back in the 1994 "Red Wave" election and after six terms, was booted by voters in 2006 for having ties to Jack Abramoff. After an unsuccessful bid to unseat Senator John McCain in the 2010 Tea Party wave by running to his right while enflaming anti-immigrant fears in the Grand Canyon State. Hayworth actually proved dumb enough to try to challenge John McCain's lack of support on "enchanced interrogation" techniques on prisoners taken in the War on Terror, somehow forgetting how McCain has quite a personal view of torture. After losing after a long, ugly campaign where he expressed some support for the Birther movement and even compared gay marriage to beastiality, Hayworth continued to parlay his former career as a conservative radio talk show host into a gig working for Newsmax, a news channel that leans so far to the right, it makes Fox News look like NPR. While Hayworth remains an utter nutter, and hosts some of the most radical members of the GOP on Newsmax to propagandize their message, he has not held or run for office for several years now.


It was in 2015, 2016, 2017, and in 2018, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day posted profiles of the U.S. House Representative from Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, Martha Roby, the current U.S. House Representative for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. Roby was once interviewed about the “redistribution of wealth” in the United States, she came out hard against the concept, until the reporter asked then how she could supports farm subsidies and aid for banks, and THEN Roby angrily called the interview a “trap” before storming out less than a minute later with her press secretary demanding the recording to prevent it from being aired. Roby has also gotten on board more than one outrage train the GOP have launched, whether it was taking to the floor of the House to give a speech about the controversy surrounding the “sting” videos of Planned Parenthood and arguing that “these aren’t specimens, they’re babies” or sitting on the Benghazi Select Committee to grill Hillary Clinton by asking whether she was “home alone” on the night of the attacks on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi. Hillary, in true alpha female form, laughed at her, before answering “no”. Roby tried following up with a “I don’t see what’s so funny” to not look like a dope, but that's an uphill battle for her, frankly. Roby also has participated in your typical GOP obstructionist voting record pattern, including votes against equal pay for women, LGBT rights, debt ceiling increases, keeping the government open (and trying to keep it shut at the end of the 2013 Government Shutdown), and even Hurricane Sandy relief funding.

In the current session of Congress, Martha Roby continues to vote along party lines almost every time:

• January 23rd, 2019: Rep. Roby voted against HR 648, because he was gleeully enjoying the longest government shutdown in history.
• February 28th, 2019: Roby votes against HR 1112, a bill which would have required universal background checks on all firearm purchases, and close the gun show loophole.
• March 14th, 2019: Rep. Roby votes against HJR 46, which sane members of Congress voted for to reject Donald Trump’s “national emergency” regarding the U.S. border and his attempts to reallocate funds for a border wall without Congressional approval.
• April 4th, 2019: Martha Roby is one of 158 Republicans who choose to vote against the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, likely because they feel the 2nd Amendment remaining absolute is more important than preventing people with a history of domestic abuse from owning a firearm (which statistics show, makes them more likely to use those firearms against women in their lives).
• May 17th, 2019: Roby votes against The Equality Act, which would have prevented discrimination towards Americans based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.
• June 4th, 2019: Rep. Roby votes against the Dreamers Act, because he’s too xenophobic and partisan to care about immigration reform.
• July 16th, 2019: Martha Roby votes against a resolution to condemn Donald Trump for his racist statements that four people of color in Congress should “go back where they came from”.

Martha Roby barely won the GOP Primary for her seat in 2018, requiring a run-off election to hang onto her seat in the House representing Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, the second straight election cycle where she got a scare. That inherent risk of losing her seat, as well as Republicans reacting to the reality that they’re unlikely to be in control of the House for at least a decade seems to have given her enough of a reason to push the “eject” button, and retire at the end of her current term in office in a year. This will most likely be the last time we profiler her, and at this time, we would like to also extend our finest of “good riddance” send-offs to her.

[Tami]

Trump Book Author Admits He Screwed Up by Wrongly Claiming Obama Held ‘Political Correctness’ Meetings

After a FoxNews.com article drew howls and derision online for claiming the Obama White House received complaints from top CIA officials for holding weekly “political correctness” meetings, the author of the book admitted that he didn’t understand that the initials “PC” actually stood for “principals committee.”

In an article published on Tuesday to Fox News’ website, reporter Sam Dorman uncritically featured quotes from conservative political commentator Doug Wead’s upcoming book Inside Trump's White House: The Real Story of His Presidency to claim that the Obama administration was “too concerned with political correctness” as it “micromanaged intelligence matters.”

It didn’t take long, however, for journalists and national-security experts to point out that the “PC meetings” intelligence officials would be grousing about referred to the National Security Council Principals Committee, which is convened by the national security adviser and consists of cabinet-level officials and top advisers.

Amid the backlash, Fox added an editor’s note to the article: “The book that is the subject of this story is accurately quoted below in describing ‘PC’ as ‘politically correct’ in brackets. Fox News is aware that ‘PC’ may instead stand for ‘Principals Committee’ and has reached out to the author for further explanation. The story has been updated and will be further revised if necessary.”

[Celgress]

A disturbing case and example of a flawed justice -

[kidfresh512]

House Republicans want to call whistleblower to testify in public impeachment hearings

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said he doesn't know the identity of the whistleblower but said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the leader of the impeachment inquiry, should call the person to testify.

This is just disgusting honestly. They all know damn well that the account has been repeatedly corroborated. They are willing to drag this person in the mud. Risk his/her career and tarnish their reputation to the 40 percent of America that will go along with the conspiracies. All for vengeance. Everything he/she said has been corroborated by other witnesses THEY KNOW ABOUT. They heard the testimony they saw the documents. They know damn well what happened and why.

The only reason to drag this person through the mud is to vindictive and trash them in public as a sign for anyone else thinking of coming forward. The complete disregard for the rule of law or the necessity of allowing avenues for people to report these things the right way. All to kiss trump's ass and put on a show that Fox news and the alt right media can crow and spin more conspiracy theories about. This behavior is the very reason a lot of people are saying #votebluenomatterwho there seems to be no bottom for GOP under trump.