Lynna is your curator. How are you all holding up, America? Not well, I guess, since this is the hardest working thread ever. The frenzy is growing!
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Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
@ 495
Burn, baby! Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurn. (As long as no one get’s hurt, of course.)
“NEW: The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year as the US economy continued slowing amid ongoing trade disputes and weak global growth.”
From Mitch McConnell:
The man lives in an irony-free zone.
This year alone the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, passed a democracy-reform package, the Equality Act to expand civil rights to LGBTQ Americans, the Dream and Promise Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill to expand background checks on gun purchases, and a bill to address the climate crisis.
They also passed bills to lower prescription drug costs, expand the Violence Against Women Act, and expand the Dream Act for younger immigrants.
Now lets look at what the Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, has done:
WGBH link to an article by David Bernstein.
Sen. Murphy:
Thread at the link. And there’s so much more!
Some of Trump’s “like a dog” statements:
“Last night was a great night for the United States and for the world. A brutal killer, one who has caused so much hardship and death, has violently been eliminated. He will never again harm another innocent man, woman, or child. He died like a dog.” Trump repeated that al-Baghdadi “died like a dog” several more times.
Trump also described ISIS leaders as acting like “very frightened puppies.”
Trump said that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) “choked like a dog” at a press conference.
In 2016, Trump told then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), “You were out there dying like a dog, Paul. Like a dog!”
Trump claimed that Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal was “fired like a dog.”
Trump described Steve Bannon as being “dumped like a dog.” He said that Mitt Romney “choked like a dog.” Trump claimed that Ted Cruz “lies like a dog.” Trump claimed that Brent Bozell came to his office “begging for money like a dog.”
In my experience, dogs don’t lie.
About Arianna Huffington, Trump wrote that he had criticized Huffington’s appearance, “Because she is a dog who wrongfully comments on me.”
About Omarosa Manigault-Newman, Trump said, “Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!”
I quoted more from this Natasha Bertrand Politico report at the end of the previous iteration, but I’m still floored by it so here are the most striking passages – “Nunes acolyte misrepresented himself to Trump as Ukraine expert”:
Lynna @ #3, I don’t know if you’ve seen this video from 2016 – I linked to it on the previous iteration, but didn’t make clear in my comment what it was about.
Repetition of details that were covered in the previous chapter of this thread:
NBC News link. More at the link.
Excerpts from commentary by Steve Benen:
Yes, that’s Trump’s usual modus operandi, repeat the lie until his base believes it.
TPM – “Dems Devise Clever Way To Counter Trump Stonewalling On Impeachment”:
More atl.
SC @5, I just watched that video. It’s very well done. Ha! Funny … and distressingly sad for real. I’m starting to think that Trump sees himself as a dog in his nightmares.
In other news, there is some discussion of the idea that Trump may have scheduled his plans to attend the World Series to coincide with the raid that killed al-Baghdadi, because he thought he would be cheered for killing the ISIS leader. Trump was roundly booed, and treated to chants of “lock him up!” (Caged like a dog?)
Josh Marshall wrote a brief essay on the timing of Trump’s visit to the World Series:
Gaetz Files Delusional Ethics Complaint Against Schiff
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/gaetz-ethics-complaint-schiff
Embarrassing selfie photo of Matt Gaetz as über Trump toady is available at the link.
He seems nice.
Lynna @ #8:
Even if he didn’t schedule it for that reason, he absolutely went thinking he’d be greeted with thunderous cheers. I’ve suspected for a while now that his aides are giving him fake information – not just carefully selected to protect his pathologically fragile ego, not just Fox or Breitbart propaganda or fawning tweets, but actual made up polls and reports and such, which has further weakened his already tenuous grasp on reality.
Daniel Dale at CNN – “Trump’s Ukraine dishonesty barrage continues. He made 96 false claims last week”:
Much more atl.
From Wonkette:
From text quoted by SC in comment 12:
Trump is a veritable firehose of lies. It’s too bad that we can’t somehow convert him into a firefighting mechanism for California.
More re #497 on the previous iteration – “There is dirty game behind withdrawal of SAA troops from some of the positions around Dirbesiye, Ras al-Ain and Til Temir. Syrian soldiers apparently did not have enough ammo and logistical support to hold their ground in contact lines.”
re SC @11: I was SO pleased to see the crowd loudly booing The Orange Toddler-Tyrant at the game, chanting “Lock him up!”, and seeing the “Impeach Trump” banner unfurled on the upper deck, as well as the “Veterans for Impeachment” banners behind home plate. The Orange Id10t needs to see more of that because his rallies provide a dishonest picture of how the US really feels about him. Fuck that motherfucker! Make him feel how unwelcome he really is!
The Democrats have invited John Bolton to come for a deposition next Thursday. They’ve also invited NSC counsel, John Eisenberg, to whom like half of the people deposed so far expressed their concerns and who appears to have orchestrated much of the cover-up.
“NEW depositions coming up with some big names, a source familiar w/ impeachment inquiry tells me:
John Eisenberg and Michael Ellis slated for 11/4
AND
John Bolton, former national security advisor, for 11/7
Not clear if these witnesses will come. House investigators have noticed depositions like this before, and then the witnesses (ie. OMB’s Duffey) did not come.”
Updates to previous:
Kurdistan 24 – “Thousands of civilians flee Turkish attacks despite ceasefire deal”:
Jenan Moussa:
I think I’ve linked to other pieces by this reporter in the past and noted that I don’t agree with much of the framing, but aside from that this is worthwhile – Al-Monitor: “Kurdish leader’s rising profile with US, Russia angers Turkey.”
Politico – “Twitter drops all political ads in shot at Zuckerberg”:
“Air Force One sits on display at #reaganlibrary as the #easyfire burns in the hills of Simi Valley.”
Photo atl.
NPR: “EXCLUSIVE: White House aide Tim Morrison, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry, is expected to leave his post at the National Security Council, three sources familiar with the plan told NPR.”
Susan Hennessey: “In terms of reading tea leaves, the fact that the NSC Russia director announces he is leaving his post ‘imminently’ two days before scheduled congressional testimony seems like maybe not great news for Trump.”
Here’s the full SDF statement from #19.
WaPo:
Judge sets Kupperman hearing for Thursday
WaPo:
White House lawyer moved transcript of Trump call to classified server after Ukraine adviser raised alarms
By Carol D. Leonnig, Tom Hamburger and Greg Miller
Oct. 30, 2019 at 7:50 p.m. PDT
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/10/30/fbi-chief-warns-congress-of-danger-from-self-radicalized-domestic-terrorists/23850298/
Yamiche Alcindor, yesterday:
Marcy Wheeler:
“Here’s the latest impeachment inquiry schedule of closed-door testimony. (Not all of these officials are expected to appear as requested.)”
“In a Fox interview, @SecPompeo peddles a new conspiracy theory involving Obama, Hunter Biden and military aid. This insinuation makes zero sense. Pompeo, the top US diplomat, doesn’t seem to care anymore about trying to establish a reputation as a straight talker.”
Transcript snippet at the link. He’s nothing more than a Trump flak.
Mustafa Bali (SDF spokesman):
Reuters – “U.S. forces conduct border patrol in northeast Syria: SDF source”:
AJ – “US military conducts Syria border patrol as troops, tanks arrive”:
Here’s video.
Tweet o’ the day.
“Impeachment procedural rules will pass. Republican grumbling on background will again fail to solidify into any Republican votes.”
Passed on almost party-line vote – two Dems voted against, and erstwhile Republican now Independent Amash voted for.
WaPo:
Is Trump’s base breaking over impeachment? The tale of a congressman’s defiance suggests not.
By Griff Witte
Oct. 31, 2019 at 11:36 a.m. PDT
Yahoo – “State Department agrees to turn over Ukraine documents, potentially providing Democrats with impeachment fodder”:
“Tim Morrison is the classic fact witness. His testimony corroborates the quid pro quo. His opinion on whether or not he thought it was a legal problem is irrelevant.”
Laura Rozen re the developments @ #33: “I cover US foreign policy to this region and I truly don’t understand how anyone can remotely understand what is the US posture or policy to this now. Are we in or out? Doing what?”
Reuters – “Islamic State vows revenge against U.S. for Baghdadi killing”:
Lindsey Graham tweeted: “If Turkish aggression against Tal Tamir and Kobani, Christian and Kurdish areas, continues, it will sever what’s left of the U.S. Congress/Turkish relationship. I would urge Turkey to stop and try to reset the relationship in a way that would be a win-win.”
My hazy hypothesis: Trump has seen the public backlash against the pull-out and betrayal of the Kurds. He continues to smear them, but the military isn’t singing from the same hymnal. Graham, other congressional Republicans, and the Pentagon have gone all out to pressure him to reverse course, including waving the oil in front of him as a lure, and hoping Erdogan’s mocking, defiant determination to commit ethnic cleansing with Trump’s approval might push him to respond.
I had thought the Christian leaders with whom Trump met this week also were possibly keeping up the pressure, but naturally they’ve again managed to dig below my already low bar for decency – Charlotte Observer – “‘They’re trying to impeach us’: What faith leaders told Trump behind closed doors”:
They say this as Turkish-backed militias are attacking Christian towns in Syria. From the same article: “Faith leaders told President Donald Trump at a private meeting at the White House this week that they saw the Democrats’ impeachment efforts in Congress as an attack on their conservative agenda, several attendees told McClatchy.” Yes, let’s not forget who the real victims are.
Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, 10 minutes ago: “We are repositioning @CJTFOIR forces to Deir ez Zor #Syria to continue partnering w/ #SDF to defeat ISIS remnants, protect critical infrastructure, & deny ISIS access to revenue sources. Mechanized forces provide infantry, maneuver, and firepower.”
Sen. Van Hollen: “Trump’s envoy told me Turkey would suffer consequences if it’s proxies attacked beyond Pence-Erdogan ‘safe zone’.
Just another empty threat.
Turkish fighters are attacking with impunity beyond 30km line—but no action from Trump. Senate must hold Erdogan and Trump accountable.”
Mustafa Bali responding to Graham’s tweet @ #41: “We repeatedly warned that Turkey has no such intention and that it will continue to attack unless US monitors implementation of cease-fire. We hope that the Senate and @POTUS will remain committed to their promises.”
tomh @36, Republican Rep. Francis Rooney’s constituents sound like they are in a cult something like scientology. That’s bizarre.
Law.com – “‘Get the Job Done:’ Judge Wants Impeachment Witness Suit Quickly Resolved”:
SC @32, this is so true: “It is hypocrisy at its finest to recognize a 100 years old genocide and to do almost nothing to prevent an ongoing one.”
From Steve Benen:
Washington Post link
“Judge chides DOJ for trying to block star Mueller witness testimony”:
Not sure I’m seeing the “chiding” described in the headline here.
Followup to SC’s comment 21.
The two most active and highest-profile critics of Twitter’s decision to drop political ads are the Trump campaign and Russian state television.
Brett McGurk:
Lynna @ #49, yeah, I saw Parscale whining about how they should next ban the “lies” from the “liberal media.” When it’s just an across the board prohibition on political advertising they can’t make their bullshit claims about bias, and he loses money. Too bad.
“It’s astonishing when you look at how many people have stepped forward — defying the White House & complying w/ congressional subpoenas — to tell what they know about Trump, Ukraine & a quid pro quo (weapons to fight Russia for an investigation into Biden).
A running list:…”
Great thread with links to articles and prepared statements follows.
“Apparently the NRCC sent some frontline Democrats ‘moving boxes’ after the impeachment vote, but because the boxes looked like suspicious packages, Capitol Police were called to investigate. So that’s neat.
Pic from a source:…
Apparently no one at the NRCC took a second to think whether sending congressional offices suspicious looking packages was a sound idea, which sounds about right.”
“Donald Trump Jr, apparently void of all self-reflection, says ‘I wish my name was Hunter Biden. I could go abroad, make millions off of my father’s presidency – I’d be a really rich guy’.”
Video clip, which I refuse to watch, atl.
@ #54
I had to watch because otherwise I wouldn’t believe he actually said that, but yeah, what do you know, he did.
Guardian – “Kurds call on US to block Turkish military drones from Syrian air space”:
They’ve been asking for a no-fly zone all along.
Al-Monitor – “Iraqi Kurds spurn Turkish goods to back Syrian kinsmen”:
Guardian – “Trump says Johnson and Farage could form ‘unstoppable force'”:
Jeremy Peters: “Televangelist and ‘prosperity gospel’ pastor Paula White officially joins the Trump administration, @maggieNYT & I report.”
NYT link atl. As the country has become increasingly secular, this combining of Christianism and state (and Christian grift and state), which gained steam under Bush II and has been abetted by a number of Democrats, has proceeded apace.
Maya Wiley: “The ‘prosperity’ gospel of #PaulaWhite joins the self dealing #Trump administration. According to the Orlando Sentinel Ed Bd ‘She’s trying to frighten believers with apocalyptic consequences if they don’t get in line behind this president’.”
Link atl.
Matt Pearce:
La Times link atl.
Justin Amash: “This president will be in power for only a short time, but excusing his misbehavior will forever tarnish your name. To my Republican colleagues: Step outside your media and social bubble. History will not look kindly on disingenuous, frivolous, and false defenses of this man.”
May it come to pass.
Owen Jones re the story @ #58:
“Everything Trump Touches Dies” Season 5 now available on BritBox.
“Q: He’s said you and Schiff are guilty of treason. Is he guilty of treason?
PELOSI: I don’t know. But I do know that he projects. Everything he says – ‘She’s in meltdown’ – means that he’s in meltdown. Everything he says, understand that he’s projecting.”
Corbyn: “Boris Johnson has spent months promising we’d leave the EU today. The failure to do so is his and his alone. Labour will get Brexit sorted by giving the people the final say within six months with the choice of a credible leave deal or remain. And we’ll carry out what you decide.”
OMG.
OMG it’s an official statement: “Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Reports that President Trump Filed Residency Paperwork for Florida.”
From the new statement from the attorneys for the IC whistleblower:
Lynna, OM@3, SC@5 on Trump and dogs (I’m just catching up after a couple of days away from the thread),
My hypothesis is that Trump hates dogs because dogs hate Trump, and have shown it. Dogs have evolved (under artificial selection) to understand human body language and voice production and particularly, how a particular human being is likely to treat them. It’s hard to imagine the child or adolescent Trump not mistreating animals when he got the chance. I think Trump gives dogs the creeps, even if he puts on a false amiability.
David Ignatius in WaPo (it’s early morning on the 1st and I’m already using up one of my free articles) – “In Ukraine, the quid pro quo may have started long before the phone call”:
Biden.
Guardian – “What links a prison murder, a New York drug trial and the Honduras president?”:
Here’s a link to today’s Guardian general election liveblog.
“Rep. Duncan Hunter now has five attorneys on his legal defense team.
He continues to serve in Congress despite a 60 count indictment of fraud, conspiracy, and campaign finance crimes.”
“He also had 5 affairs, including staffers and lobbyists, paid for them with campaign funds and then blamed his wife for his ‘campaign finance issues’.”
Greg Sargent:
Public hearings haven’t even begun.
Adam Klasfeld in Courthouse News – “Boom Times for Turkey’s Lobbyists in Trump’s Washington”:
Much, much more atl. Very interesting report.
“Boris Johnson:
Back the deal. It will get Brexit done.
Nigel Farage:
Don’t back the deal. It’s not Brexit.
Brexiters:
Everyone who voted Leave knew what they voted for.”
North Carolina State Senator Jeff Jackson:
Video atl.
“Post/ABC poll on Trump’s approval among Republicans:
July 87%
now 74%
18% of Republicans say Congrese should impeach Trump and remove him from the presidency”
re SC @79: They did this shit on 9/11 in the NC House when the republicans had said there would be no votes and a lot of the democrats were attending memorial services. The fucking republicans in NC have NO SHAME. They will do everything they can to skew the vote in their favor.
Elizabeth Warren:
From Warren’s introduction to her plan (linked @ #82):
Amnesty – “Turkey: Hundreds arrested in crackdown on critics of military offensive in Syria “:
WaPo:
Kudlow says he agrees with Trump that the impeachment process hurts stock market
He said this as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq reached record highs today.
Excellent piece by Dahlia Lithwick in Slate – “Why I Haven’t Gone Back to SCOTUS Since Kavanaugh”:
Every day I feel like the country is failing to recognize the extent of women’s anger.
Wajahat Ali: “My wife and I received the total cost of Nusayba’s life saving liver transplant from last month: over $430K. If we didn’t have insurance from our wife’s work we would never be able afford that. No way my daughter would have made it. This is madness. Americans deserve better.”
Guardian – “Trump-Russia dossier author gave evidence to UK intrusion inquiry”:
Moscow Times – “‘Putin’s Chef’ Ordered to Pay for Mass Child Poisonings”:
Guardian – “Brazilian president’s son suggests using dictatorship-era tactics on leftist foes”:
There’s a new Crooked Media podcast – “Rubicon: The Impeachment of Donald Trump.”
I don’t think it’s on the Crooked site yet, but there’s a link to the first episode, featuring an interview with Matthew Miller, here.
“After saying he would push for gun control measures after mass shootings, Trump is no longer pushing a plan. Among the reasons: Advice from campaign manager Brad Parscale and chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, NRA, infighting in White House & impeachment.”
Natasha Bertrand in Politico – “Testimony: White House lawyer told Vindman not to discuss Ukraine call”:
“Incredible picture from Tahrir Square in Baghdad right now! The energy is palpable! #insm_iq photo credit: Ibrahim Abdulkarim #IraqProtests #oneiraq”
Wow.
Guardian letter – “We stand in solidarity with Rojava, an example to the world”:
Good question.
Mustafa Bali responds to Sen. Van Hollen @ #42 above: “The attacks have never been ceased, Senator @ChrisVanHollen, as you point out in your tweet. The scale of attacks reached far beyond the cease-fire zone inc. Kobani and Til Temir. However, we are still hopeful that the US promises re. stopping the invasion will be kept.”
Beto O’Rourke has withdrawn from the presidential race.
@ 98
Good! Now if he can only get over himself and run for Senate.
Recommended podcast episodes:
“Deconstructed Special: The Noam Chomsky Interview”:
Josh Marshall podcast – “Ep. 91: A Must-Listen Interview With Filmmaker Errol Morris”:
Tweet o’ the day – Gen. Mazloum:
Here’s a list (non-exhaustive) of events tomorrow around the world from RiseUp4Rojava.
RiseUp4Rojava on Twitter.
Independent – “‘It’s like nothing we have come across before’: UK intelligence officials shaken by Trump administration’s requests for help with counter-impeachment inquiry”:
Daniel Dale is livetweeting Trump’s Mississippi rally.
Video – “Chris Hayes Presents 9 Pieces Of Evidence Of Quid Pro Quo.”
CNN – “‘I’m the best-paid interpreter in the world’: Indicted Giuliani associate Lev Parnas touted windfall from Ukrainian oligarch”:
More atl.
This detail from Ema O’Connor’s BuzzFeed report on Igor Fruman’s failed attempt to get his bail conditions amended:
Daniel Dale (for some reason I can’t get the entire thread @ #103 at one time or find the beginning of the second half – it was a grievance fest): “This was an interesting moment tonight: Trump complaining about not getting enough coverage for his the death of Baghdadi, then seguing to a dog getting more attention than him, while repeatedly adding that he is ‘happy’ the dog is getting the attention.”
Within hours if not minutes of Milley saying during the Pentagon briefing that they wouldn’t be releasing a picture or the name of the dog because it would compromise security, Trump had tweeted out a picture. Shortly thereafter, he casually revealed the dog’s name, hinting that the dog might be visiting the White House. He resents and hates this dog, and I hope they can keep the dog away from him or only allow heavily supervised interactions with this petty, cruel, abusive man.
Kurdistan 24 – “Syrian Kurdish officials reject Assad’s plans to control autonomous territory”:
The Syrian army there doesn’t appear to be well armed.
The Hill – “Washington Nationals player says he won’t visit Trump White House: ‘I just can’t do it'”:
I read this Reuters piece – “Exclusive: Overhaul of Ukraine prosecution agency buries Manafort inquiries – investigators” – yesterday, and I’m having a hard time buying some of these investigators’ claims. The Yanukovych/Manafort investigations have been going on for five years, they stopped cooperating with Mueller a year and a half ago (see #71 above), and yet somehow they “had been ‘within weeks’ of announcing official suspects” in the Manafort case? This quote, from someone who was allegedly within weeks of bringing charges, is something else:
That’s simply ludicrous, and if it’s really how they’ve operated they are desperately in need of reforms.
It seems like they’re trying to present Giuliani’s visit as the causal factor rather than Zelenskyy’s administration moving to reform the prosecutor’s office after they came to power. I could be wrong, but I’m skeptical.
“Confusion as NO ONE turns up for ‘huge’ pro Brexit demo in Doncaster this morning.”
Photo of no one turning up atl.
CNN – “Confusion reigns over US plan to ‘secure the oil’ in Syria as commanders await orders”:
Avi Bueno:
Yahoo – “Children were told to ‘build the wall’ at White House Halloween party”:
Photos atl.
Last month in the US Middle Eastern adventures
Erdogan to Trump: “Listen, I’m seriously gonna invade northeast Syria now. It’s all just terrorists out there. You know there’s no point starting a war between us NATO allies over that patch of sand. You should order a US withdrawal from there, to prevent any misunderstandings or accidental hits on US troops. You can frame it as quitting stupid foreign wars, as you’ve sometimes promised you’d do.”
Trump: “OK, whatever.” announces a super hasty withdrawal
US troops in NE Syria as Turkey invades: ????????
Special ops command: “Fuck, now we gotta finish the Baghdadi hunt fast. Sucks that you can’t tell Mr. Twitter-Stream-of-Thought about secret ops.”
US media: “We’re shamefully abandoning our Kurdish allies in Syria. A genocide is impending as Turkey invades, and ISIS might resurge…”
Trump to media: “We’re quitting the stupid war in Syria. ISIS has been defeated, thanks to me. Let the Kurds fight their own wars, it’s part of traditional culture over there and they were always lousy allies anyway. We’re bringing our troops home from Syria!”
Pence to media: “We have reached an agreement with Turkey that the Kurds will be kept safe as long as they agree to run away from advancing Turkish troops.”
US media: “Our troop engagement in Syria remains at a roughly constant level, while other troops are being contracted out to protect Saudi Arabia…”
Aide to Trump: “We got Baghdadi, the ISIS leader. You should come quickly for a war room photo op, because this is a major PR opportunity.”
Trump at rallies: “Thanks to me, and our great troops and even greater service dogs in Syria, we were able to brutally execute a weeping coward, I think he tried to surrender at the last moment. You can trust me, we wiped his remains from the walls with a copy of the Geneva Convention!”
Rally crowd: “BLOOD AND GUTS! BLOOD AND GUTS!”
Esper to Trump: “It’s best to emphasize that our ongoing presence in Syria is a good thing and necessary to prevent any resurgence of ISIS. For example, these oil pipelines in eastern Syria need to be guarded against terrorist attacks…”
Trump at rallies: “Our great troops in Syria are taking over the oil fields over there, because we have to get something out of all this hassle. We’re taking the oil! All the oil are belong to us!”
Rally crowd: “DRILL BABY DRILL!”
Assad: “Spoken like an honest crook, and I know about these things”
Esper to media: “He didn’t mean we’re taking the oil.”
US military command in Syria: ????????
BuzzFeed – “The Mueller Report’s Secret Memos”:
Link to the documents and some key takeaways atl. Props to these reporters.
JFC, they’re such lying scumbags.
Susan Hennessey:
Kurdistan 24 – “Syrian Kurdish leader lambasts Trump for praising Turkish ceasefire deal”:
Mustafa Bali:
Trump’s golf resort, Doral, is a shithole.
https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold/status/1190365183459438598
Daily Mail link
This report does not surprise me. Trump runs Doral like he runs the USA … badly, incompetently, and with a huge amount of propaganda slathered on top.
Superb thread: “The UK is currently unsure about whether Brexit would be good or bad for the NHS, because a Prime Minister who studied Greek Poetry at university says it’ll be good, but @TheBMA(Doctors), @theRCN(Nurses), @RCM(Midwives). @MidwivesRCM, @RCRadiologists, @rcgp(GPs) say it’ll be bad….”
Another threat from Turkish officials … well, actually this is repetition of a threat issued from Turkey before:
Link
“This is pretty compelling evidence that Prince misled Congress about whether he advised the Trump campaign in 2016. He basically told lawmakers he sent some policy papers to Bannon and wasn’t even an ‘informal’ adviser.”
Schiff sent a criminal referral to the DoJ six months ago.
A proposed HHS rule would roll back LGBTQ protections relevant to adoption agencies, and in foster care.
Link
More at the link.
Lynna @ #122, and the camps in Syria are rapidly becoming a humanitarian emergency. Conditions weren’t great to begin with, and now with the Turkish attack and the chaos, the ISIS prisoners are in bad shape. I’ve seen some pictures of men who look like they’re very sick or starving.
About Trump switching his official residency from New York to Florida:
Link
SC @125, one more layer of consequences! And Trump takes no responsibility. This is an ongoing disaster.
The RNC knew about the timing of the WikiLeaks releases, and planned a whole strategy around it?
Followup to SC’s comment 103, and to Daniel Dale’s live blog of the rally in Mississippi.
Trump was purportedly in Mississippi to support Tate Reeves, the Republican running for governor there, but instead, Trump blathered on an on about other subjects; defending himself against the House impeachment inquiry, and obviously that was Trump’s reason for the rally.
Link
Hmmm, this does not augur well for the Biden campaign: only 5% of Biden’s supporters in Iowa are younger than 45.
About Elizabeth Warren’s 60-page plan to pay for her “Medicare for All” proposal:
Wonkette link
“302s FOIA: Manafort seeded lie on Ukraine DNC hack immediately, advised campaign after being fired, briefing Gates and Hannity, while Bannon helped conceal. Bannon warned of Wendy Deng and oligarchs as they vacationed with Javanka. And more. #MuellerMemos”
From Max Boot, writing for The Washington Post:
CNN – “Facebook will allow UK election candidates to run false ads”:
Scott Stedman:
Also, there were reports in 2017 that Kushner was warned by intelligence people that Wendi Deng (Rupert Murdoch’s ex) might be a spy for China.
David Frum, echoing my question @ #128: “RNC ‘indicated’ it had advance knowledge of timing of WikiLeaks releases????????????”
Did subsequent evidence show this not to be true? How are we just hearing about it now?
Very interesting Democracy Now! interview: “Chicago Teachers and UAW Members Show That Labor Movement Is Back After ‘Decades of Concessions’.”
Video and transcript atl.
Carole Cadwalladr:
Here’s Rachel Maddow’s report on the Trump-Farage rally in Mississippi in August 2016. It still sticks with me.
lumipuna @ #115, I appreciated that.
This from 2018 is also massively sketchy and weird – “Mississippi’s Republican governor is ensnared in post-Brexit lawsuit.”
Josh Dawsey:
WaPo link atl.
Re #141 – I really hope the media don’t fall for attempts to make the Ukraine story about some irrational and inexplicable personal hostility Trump has for Ukraine (which would be disqualifying enough!), when all of his bizarre attitudes, beliefs, and grievances coincide with and benefit Putin and a handful of other corrupt autocrats.
Julia Davis:
Susan Hennessey: “I’m seeing people who are shocked today at things that were included in the Mueller Report itself. It’s a dense document. That’s why we adapted it into a podcast documentary series. 15 episodes. No hot takes. Just what Mueller found. Give it a listen.”
Links to and descriptions of the podcast episodes atl.
BBC – “UFC: Raucous reception for Trump at Mixed Martial Arts”:
Guardian – “Labour questions Dominic Cummings’s links to Russia”:
“Wow. Extraordinary interview with Conservative MP Dominic Grieve on report Boris Johnson has blocked on Russian interference. ‘What Number 10 has said is not true. It’s a lie’.”
2.5-minute video atl. “They’re coming out with things which are quite simply whopping untruths. And they must know it.”
SBS – “The German city of Dresden has been forced to declare a ‘Nazi emergency'”:
“It’s official – @POTUS has set the lowest refugee cap in history despite record numbers of refugees globally.”
State Dept. announcement atl.
Guardian Observer – “Johnson ‘knew about Vote Leave’s illegal overspend’, says MP”:
“Given that we are now in an officially-declared impeachment hearing, Congress should subpoena all phone conversation records with specific world leaders (first among them Putin) that are hiding in the secret server. It would be a treasure trove of impeachable Trump dirty-talk.”
Tweet o’ the day.
Whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid:
Brett McGurk:
“Staggering – more than 45,000 veterans & active-duty members of the U.S. military have taken their own lives over the past six years.”
NYT link atl.
“NEW: President Trump threatens to expose information about Lt. Col. Vindman. Watch.”
Video clip atl.
“In four years trump has not lied as thoroughly & egregiously as he just did for 20 minutes on the WH lawn. Without exaggeration, 100% of his words were sick, twisted — and provable lies.
There are no words. As impossible as it sounds it was the worst he’s ever been.”
Cable news can’t continue to cover him the way they have been, just airing his lies and illegal threats.
BOO-S-A! BOO-S-A!
“POTUS continues to call for people to identify the whistleblower, whose account has been mostly verified by testimony before the House by people sympathetic to and critical of Trump. ‘You would be doing the public a service if you did’, Trump tells reporters today, per pool.”
Adam Schiff:
WaPo:
Mulvaney allies try to stonewall Democrats’ impeachment inquiry
Budget chief and other top aides will attempt to create firewall after other senior officials gave testimony that questioned Trump’s motivations
By Rachael Bade, Josh Dawsey and Erica Werner
November 3, 2019 at 1:44 p.m. PST
re SC @157: So, he stood on the WH lawn with the helicopter whirring for twenty fucking minutes disparaging Vindman? The fucking republicans are totally shameful to support this asshole.
re SC @158: How damn delusional do you have to be to think that boos are cheers? I just want every one of that damn family to disappear from the face of the earth.
SC@147,
A correction (of Carole Cadwalladr): Grieve is an ex-Tory MP, one of those expelled by Johnson for backing the “Benn Bill” which obliged Johnson to ask for an extension. Some of the comments on the Twitter thread make the same point.
Angry White Men blog – “‘My Ancestors Fucking Enslaved Those Pieces Of Fucking Shit,’ Richard Spencer Shrieks In Leaked Audio”:
Audio atl. I don’t know how something like this could be authenticated.
Also:
As the AWM post notes, the other recent context is Yiannopoulos whining about how he and some other despicable people are banned from Twitter while Spencer is still allowed on the platform.
“if you think Richard Spencer’s coked-out cobra commander rant is offensive waitll you hear all the things he calmly said right to your stupid fucking faces on camera while you kept fawning over his fucking suits”
Remarkably, Sinn Fein is not running candidates in three Northern Ireland seats in order to give another candidate a better chance of defeating the “D”UP. In two cases the “D”UP currently hold the seat (in one of these their main challenger is from the “moderate nationalist” SDLP, in the other from the Alliance, which refuses to register as either nationalist or unionist. The third seat is the most remarkable: it is held by Sylvia Hermon, a pro-remain independent unionist. The SDLP will not run a candidate in South Belfast, to give Sinn Fein the best chance of beating Nigel Dodds, the “D”UP’s Westminster leader. The UUP (“moderate unionists”) have gone back on their promise to run in all 18 constituencies – they will not run in south Belfast, after protests from other unionists, and threats from paramilitaries.
It seems inconsistent for Sinn Fein to stand aside for other candidates who will take their seats if elected while maintaining their own boycott of Westminster I wonder if they are reconsidering the latter.
NYT:
Trump Taxes: Appeals Court Rules President Must Turn Over 8 Years of Tax Returns
By Benjamin Weiser
Nov. 4, 2019, 10:47 a.m. ET
Trump counting on “his” Supreme Court.
While California is fighting massive fires, Trump is threatening to pull federal aid for the state:
NBC News link
Commentary:
Link
From the New York Times (in September):
Iran spins more centrifuges, making Trump’s failure more obvious.
Link
WTF?
Link
About Trump’s “impenetrable” wall on the US/Mexico border:
Washington Post link
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IG/IG00/CPRT-116-IG00-D003.pdf
Yovanovitch’s testimony transcript.
REPORT: Kushner OK’d Khashoggi Arrest, Turkey Heard Call & Blackmailed Trump over Syrian Troops
Link
More at the link.
From Wonkette:
From the Washington Post:
More from Wonkette:
John Oliver Breaks Down All the “Ridiculous” Ways Your Vote Could Be Miscounted in the Next Election
Link
NSFW
Newly released New York Times/Siena College surveys show Donald Trump in competitive positions in six key 2020 battleground states, with Elizabeth Warren trailing in all but one of the six, Bernie Sanders trailing in three, and Joe Biden trailing in one.
NY times link
The article is more dismissive of Elizabeth Warren than it should be, in my opinion.
WTF? The Republican Party of Minnesota has completed its presidential primary ballot, and GOP officials have decided to exclude Donald Trump’s primary rivals, leaving the president’s name as the only one listed.
Minneapolis Star Tribune link
A loss for Trump, a win for some immigrants:
Link
https://www.wonkette.com/rudys-fixers-keep-breaking-sh-t
Commentary on Yovanovitch’s testimony:
Link
Excerpt from a much longer article by Anders Aslund:
Link
WaPo:
McKinley said he pushed three times for a statement supporting Yovanovitch, contrary to Pompeo’s claim to ABC News
These people just lie without any consequences.
WaPo Opinion:
The Supreme Court should not take up Trump’s tax-return case
By Harry Litman
November 4, 2019 at 3:42 p.m. PST
It doesn’t inspire confidence that you have to count on Roberts as the swing vote.
“Russian/Turkish patrol in the Kobani area today, with a large following of local journalists. Civilians threw stones at the military and waved and smiled at the journalists.
On their way back from patrol through Kobani, these Turkish soldiers rotated their gun turret towards us when we started filming them.”
Pictures atl. Video here.
Here’s a link to today’s Guardian general election liveblog.
Also, a Guardian update – “PM accused of cover-up over report on Russian meddling in UK politics”:
Cadwalladr: “When wrote about [Nalobin] in Nov ‘17, @ObserverUK received 2 letters of complaint from Russian embassy accusing me of being a ‘bad journalist’ who had shown my ‘true colours’. Fun times”
CNN – “Giuliani associate in talks with impeachment investigators”:
Voting today across the US!
FiveThirtyEight – “Everything You Need To Know About The 2019 Elections”:
Daily Kos tracker.
Taniel.
I had never seen this before.
“Rees-Mogg sorry for saying Grenfell victims lacked common sense”:
His comments are quoted atl, and he wasn’t at all “unclear.”
Fintan O’Toole in the Guardian – “Brexiters evoking Ireland’s civil war should be careful what they wish for.”
From last night: “Hannity said just now that he has ‘multiple sources’ confirming the whistleblower’s identity but will keep “playing the game” for now and not reveal it, says the whistleblower’s attorneys have threatened to sue him if he does.”
Also last night: “Sen. Rand Paul at Trump rally: ‘We now know the name of the whistleblower’ before telling the media to ‘do your job’ and reveal their identity.
Crowd started chanting and pointing at press pen: ‘DO YOUR JOB! DO YOUR JOB!'”
Judd Legum thread:
In the impeachment inquiry, House Republicans have not used their time wisely.
From the Washington Post:
From Dana Milbank, also writing for the Washington Post:
Those Republicans sound like they have been brainwashed.
Also, those Republicans didn’t really defend Trump, if that was their purpose. It’s like they are caught in a delusion loop.
Guardian – “Don’t sign pledges on NHS or climate, Tory HQ tells candidates”:
Document and more atl.
Love this: “The party emphasised that it advised not signing pledges on trade deals and the NHS because ‘the NHS is not for sale and no trade agreement will change this fact’.” But whatever you do, candidates, don’t put your name on anything to that effect!
Sen. Van Hollen:
From Josh Marshall:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/prime/pulling-his-strings
“We’ve completed voir dire of just one potential juror at Roger Stone trial. She is a former Obama WH OMB official. Courtroom cleared for a medical incident involving a spectator. Trial in recess.”
Adam Schiff in USA Today – “Trump betrayed America. Soon the public will hear from patriots who defended it.”:
“Qaramokh village, east of #Kobane where villagers protest Turkish forces.”
Video atl. Per #185 above, I believe the ones they’re greeting warmly at the end are journalists.
More from the Stone trial:
From Mark Sumner:
More at the link.
Trump disrespects Native Americans … again:
Link
J.F.C.
From Wonkette:
SC @205, JFC indeed. “To say no to President Trump would be saying no to God.”
And that seems to be a central part of the Trump cult. It is not a fringe thing. It is central.
CREW – “CREW, NSA and SHAFR Sue Pompeo and State Department Over Recordkeeping Failure”:
Transactional Trump: Trump hasn’t campaigned in Virginia, but he suggested this morning that voters in the commonwealth owe him because of the “massive amount” of money he’s spent on national defense.
Followup to SC’s comment 193.
From Trump:
Commentary:
Link
Q: Mr. President, according to several recent polls, more Americans want you to be impeached and removed from office than the number of Americans who don’t.
TRUMP: Well, you’re reading the wrong polls. You’re reading the wrong polls.
Q: Fox News, Wall Street Journal, NBC, ABC, Washington Post – all of those polls.
TRUMP: You’re read- – let me just tell you, I have the real polls. I have the real polls.
Trump’s denialism and delusions associated with polls are growing.
CNN – “FBI arrests alleged white supremacist accused of planning to bomb a Pueblo synagogue”:
“Out on lunch.
Four prospective jurors questioned, all fed employees, 3 are lawyers.
Roger Stone returned to the courtroom for the questioning. He’s still looking unwell.”
@ 212
If you really think the Holocaust was so great, then why bother to deny it in the first place?
Axios – “Trump administration mulls privatizing national park campgrounds”:
“An angry #Kobani resident to Russians: ‘Our children are dying. U r their partner. U r murderers like them. U r fascists like them. U must stop this useless guy! U must ask him ‘What do u want from these kids’?’ Enough, these mothers are suffering. Where’s humanity & justice?'”
Video atl.
“Stone leaves early due to food poisoning.”
Sure.
Ian Dunt:
Enter Tory MP Andrew Bridgen. I’m speechless.
Also, someone really needs to leak the Russian interference report they’re criminally withholding.
The Sondland and Volker transcripts have been released. Links atl.
“BREAKING from the NY Times: US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland updated his testimony to acknowledge delivering a quid-pro-quo message to Ukraine.”
That’s quite an update.
From Sondland’s revised testimony:
@ 221
It looks like the GOP has decided to lean into the QPQ allegations, claiming that there was nothing illegal or impeachable about them, then trying to deny them. The fact that Hunter Biden was target the “anticorruption” investigations Trump wanted was merely a coincidence, right?
Kyle Cheney:
Amendment and text atl. A-mazing.
From the New York Times:
Sneaky, unethical tactics employed by the RNC:
Link
From Wonkette:
Link
Currently trending on Twitter: #RedPaul.
Bloomberg – “State Department Opposes Turkey Sanctions, Genocide Resolution”:
There really isn’t a State Department to speak of now. It’s Trump and his lackeys.
“Pete is happy to fight with folks on the left, he’s just afraid to fight big corporations and CEOs. He takes their checks while attacking Warren from the right. It’s deceptive and shallow. But despite his attacks, many reporters still credit him with staying ‘above the fray’.”
“Sondland explaining why they wanted Zelensky to send them his draft statement so they could run it by Rudy Giuliani is next level.”
Transcript screenshot atl. This is all absurdly criminal.
“Sen. Harris: Has Mr. Giuliani made any formal representations, at least to the Justice Department or the FBI, regarding his foreign relationships, business dealings or conflicts of interest?
FBI Director Wray: I’m not sure there’s anything I could say on that here.”
“Okay. So. This text exchange from Sept. 22 shows that Pompeo has some serious questions to answer!
What on earth does that last sentence mean and why would Giuliani be telling Volker which statement to use? Especially when he’s telling the same to John Solomon?”
Pompeo is deep in the middle of this. And Solomon and Hannity are agents in the covert propaganda campaign.
As I’ve been saying on Twitter, the GOP is trying out a new plea: Guilty But Don’t Do Anything About It.
They can call it Nolo Givacrap.
“wild stuff happening in WI, where the Senate GOP has just fired the State Ag Sec because he spoke out about farmer suicides.”
Taniel:
Guardian – “Johnson delay on Russia dossier helps Putin, says Litvinenko widow”:
I’m tired of news reports about how Yovanovitch “felt/feels threatened.” Numerous public statements, private comments and warnings to her, and Trump’s comment to Zelenskyy that she was going to “go through some things” can’t be reasonably interpreted as anything other than menacing. The story is that the US ambassador to Ukraine was harassed, undermined, smeared, recalled, and threatened by Trump and his henchmen. It’s not about her feelings. She felt threatened because she was threatened.
southpaw:
ABC:
Statement atl. I wonder why the timing.
David Fahrenthold:
See Lynna’s #120 above for the Doral report.
Dave Wasserman:
“I’ve seen enough. Projection: Andy Beshear (D) has defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) in #KYGOV.”
“Projection: Democrats have picked up control of the VA Senate. #VALEG”
I hope he’s right.
“It’s been an awful long time since Dems got some welcome election results out of coalfields but tonight might break that streak. #KYGOV”
“Today there was another Turkish bombing on Bara, located along western flanks of Mount Sinjar. The Yazidi homeland is heading toward more instability. Less than 20 percent of population have returned and they live in constant fear.”
I’m simply astonished by this. They’re stomach-churningly awful.
“Democrats have flipped the Virginia House and Senate, securing a legislative trifecta & with it can control redistricting, protect Medicaid expansion, institute universal gun background checks, and secure protections for LGBTQ people.”
As some of the responses point out, ratifying the ERA is also possible.
“Two years later, the nation’s first trans lawmaker becomes the nation’s first trans lawmaker to be re-elected to office.”
Tweet o’ the day.
“BREAKING on MSNBC: @NBCNews calls Kentucky governor’s race for Democrat Andy Beshear over Republican incumbent Matt Bevin.”
AP has now called it as well. Trump won the state by 30 points.
“Trump campaigned for Matt Bevin in Kentucky last night and said to the crowd, ‘You gotta vote because if you lose, it sends a really bad message. It just sends a bad and they’re going to build it up … You can’t let that happen to me’.”
Correction to #248: The report I saw was wrong – the AP hasn’t called it yet.
So. Good.
Here’s a link to today’s Guardian general election liveblog.
Ian Dunt – “Wave of scandal: The Tory party is becoming a sewer”:
Much more atl.
Julia Davis in the Daily Beast – “Thanks to Rand Paul, Russian Media Are Naming the Alleged Whistleblower”:
I take some comfort in the fact that they’re often quite clueless and believe their own propaganda:
“Naming the whistleblower has nothing to do with stopping impeachment and everything to do with retribution against the specific person and intimidation of future would-be whistleblowers, some of whom have already approached Congress.”
AP – “AP sources: State Dept. worried about defending ambassador”:
A+ screenshot.
“Fiona Hill’s lawyer accuses Sondland of lying under oath…
Sondland testified at 4 separate points to having coffee with Fiona Hill. Her lawyer now says that never happened.”
Documents atl.
“Update: #Iraq remains largely offline 41 hours after shutdowns were imposed restricting the voices of protesters, posing a direct risk to safety and limiting civil engagement at a critical moment for the country’s future #IraqProtests”
WaPo:
Trump’s ‘conscience rule’ for health providers voided by federal judge
By Yasmeen Abutaleb
November 6, 2019 at 9:36 a.m. PST
NYT:
The House Intelligence Committee will hold the first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry next week.
— Nicholas Fandos
From the Washington Post:
Republican holds on power are weakening. The GOP still has a strong grip on the Senate. That needs to be weakened as well.
More made up numbers and general delusion from Hair Furor:
Trump said later that the boost for Bevin, thanks to Trump, was “maybe 20.”
No, there was no boost. Bevin seems to have lost points in part because Trump held a rally in Kentucky on the eve of the election. Bevin lost, in part, because he tied himself so closely to Trump and to Trumpism.
Bevin still has not conceded, a particularly churlish move.
Kansas election news: Democrat Brandon Whipple won the mayoral contest in Wichita. He defeated the Republican Jeff Longwell by 10 points.
Pennsylvania election news: Democrats how hold all five seats in Delaware County, a “Republican stronghold since the Civil War.”
Drew Morgan cast an absentee ballot from the International Space Station. If he can vote in a Pennsylvania election, surely we other earthlings can manage to get it done.
SC@189, Thanks for that!
The bad news from Mississippi:
Clarion Ledger link
Reeves won 52.2% to 46.5%, which is a fairly good showing for the Democrat that lost. Trump won the state by 17 points in 2016. This year’s gubernatorial race results are the closest in Mississippi in two decades.
Commentary from Steve Benen:
One of the consequences of the Republican win is that about 100,000 uninsured Mississippians will not get the healthcare benefits they would have received if the Medicaid expansion was approved.
Republicans complain, but they don’t show up to do the work: At the deposition for Ambassador Gordon Sondland, Roll Call noted that “Democrats outnumbered Republicans more than 2-to-1.”
That’s not because GOP members were excluded; it’s because Republicans chose not to show up for the depositions they were invited to participate in.
Followup to comment 265.
Washington Post link
Commentary from Steve Benen:
Followup to comment 261.
Link
One of the consequences of the Republican win is that about 100,000 uninsured Mississippians will not get the healthcare benefits they would have received if the Medicaid expansion was approved.
Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re all good born-again Christians who will no doubt think they’ll go to heaven after they die from the ailments they can’t afford to treat.
Left-wing commentators like to say these rubes vote against their own best interests. I say they don’t even know what they’re best interests are.
WaPo:
Live updates: Acting ambassador says it was his ‘clear understanding’ U.S. military aid would not be sent until Ukraine pursued investigations
By John Wagner and Felicia Sonmez
November 6, 2019 at 11:21 a.m. PST
WaPo:
Trump’s taxes: Judge inclined to allow House lawsuit seeking president’s returns to proceed
By Ann E. Marimow
November 6, 2019 at 12:13 p.m. PST
Things look bleak when you can’t even count on your own judges.
Livetweeted thread from the opening day of Roger Stone’s trial yesterday.
Rachel Maddow last night – “Stone Trial Opens New Window On Trump’s Awareness Of Russian Help”: “Rachel Maddow looks at the prosecution’s opening statement in the trial of Roger Stone and points out that as much as much as this trial is about Stone, it is also significantly about what and when Donald Trump knew about Russia’s effort to help his 2016 campaign.”
CNN – “Washington Post: Trump asked for Barr to host news conference clearing him on Ukraine”:
Here’s a link to today’s Guardian general election liveblog.
Law & Crime – “Former Florida AG Once Suspected of Engaging in ‘Quid Pro Quo’ with Trump to Join Impeachment Team”:
In fact, the contribution came from the Trump Foundation which tried to hide it, adding more levels of illegality:
CNN on Jennifer Williams, who’ll be testifying today in the impeachment inquiry – “Pence aide likely to testify in impeachment inquiry”:
Daily Beast – “Alex Jones Goes on Tirade Against Roger Stone Jurors”:
“Jennifer WIlLIAMS, aide to VP Pence and longtime foreign service officer, has arrived for her impeachment deposition.”
Daily Beast – “Ukrainian President Was Booked to Announce Biden Investigation on CNN, Says Report”:
Andrew Prokop:
Taylor transcript excerpts atl.
“Huge protest in front of [American University of Beirut]’s main gate this morning.
#LebanonProtests have, among others, rejuvenated a traditionally vibrant Lebanese student’s movement, very active & influent in the 70’s, before it was swallowed by the war..”
Livetweeting from Stone trial today.
Reuters – “U.S. senators press for sanctions on Turkey if it is violating Syria ceasefire”:
“@BobMenendezNJ @ChrisMurphyCT introduce privileged Senate resolution that would require Trump administration to report on Turkish human [r]ights abuses in Syria.
(If this passes and the State Department fails to do the report within a month, Turkey loses all US security assistance including arms sales)”
Gen. Mazloum, yesterday: “As a result of series of meetings with Coalition leaders, #SDF is resuming its joint program of work with the Coalition to combat #ISIS and securing the infrastructure of NE #Syria. According to the current stage and new developments on the ground.”
France 24 – “France’s Macron says NATO experiencing ‘brain death'”:
Macron’s statements and actions for the past few months pose a serious danger for the people of Europe, in my view. His presentation of the issues is ignorant, stupid, or worse, not to mention incoherent.
“Overheard at the Pentagon today: ‘It’s like one long-ass bad day for three years’.”
Lindsey Graham is throwing lies around like he wants to challenge Trump for the Liar-in-Chief title:
From the New York Times:
The NYT article also says that “at least four prominent attorneys” declined to represent Giuliani. That sounds like a smart move on their part.
Report from the Rojava Information Center – “Turkey’s track record: The occupation of Afrin”:
Report atl.
Trump has confirmed Erdoğan’s visit next week.
Sen. Blumenthal: “The US should not be rewarding the man who committed war crimes with an invite to the WH. Trump’s persistence in wining & dining Erdogan shows a shocking disregard for Turkish aggression in Syria & attacks on our Kurdish partners.”
From Mark Sumner:
If even part of the above analysis is true, then William Barr is not refusing to cross more ethical lines when he comes to Trump. He is planning to blow up everything for Trump’s benefit.
NewsChannel5-Nashville – “Nashville Kurdish community collects donations for Syrian Refugees”:
As noted in an earlier thread, around a third of US Kurdish people live in Nashville.
From Wonkette:
The first public hearings, with Bill Taylor and George Kent, will be next Wednesday, the 13th (see tomh’s #259 above). Trump has scheduled Erdoğan’s visit for the same day, both as a distraction and an opportunity to propagandize (for Erdoğan as well). I’m sure there will also be protests. The cable news networks have important choices to make about what they’ll cover and how. I hope they do the right thing.
An explanation for the “[Sondland]” brackets in Lindsey Graham’s statements, as shown in comment 286:
Graham kept referring to Gordon Sondland as “Sunderland.” Apparently, Graham still hasn’t read any impeachment inquiry transcripts, and he hasn’t learned the names of the people involved, nor of the people testifying. Maybe he thinks that if they are not named Trump, he does not have to bother learning their names.
From Laura Clawson:
Me too. And, frankly, that’s an embarrassing move on Joe Biden’s part.
JFC.
Yahoo – “Whistleblower attorneys fear for client’s safety as Trump allies move to out him”:
Much, much more atl. Frightening.
More than 100 black female activists endorse Warren for president.
Link
Guardian – “Leak from neo-Nazi site could identify hundreds of extremists worldwide”:
From another thread of livetweets of the Stone trial:
“#BREAKING Merkel says disagrees with Macron’s ‘sweeping judgement’ on NATO.”
The WaPo report discussed @ #272 has gotten under Trump’s skin. Tweets from the past several hours:
“AP Exclusive: Steyer aide offered money for endorsements”:
More atl. The only Dem presidential candidacy worse than Steyer’s is Gabbard’s. Both the vanity plate and the autocrats’ choice have made next week’s debate.
“NEW: A NY state judge has ordered President Donald Trump to pay $2 million to a collection of non-profit orgs as part of a settlement with the New York state attorney general’s office to resolve a civil lawsuit that alleged ‘persistent’ violations of charities law. Story TK.”
In case anyone’s forgotten how terrible Roger Stone is.
“To be clear, the oil revenue is not going to the United States – it is going to the SDF, @ChiefPentSpox stresses.”
Trump deserves to be jeered and mocked wherever he goes:
From #284 above: “[Macron] said NATO did not reexamine its future in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union and ‘the unarticulated assumption is that the enemy is still Russia’…. has courted President Vladimir Putin as a partner….”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin is tweeting Stalinist propaganda.
Politico – “NSC official who attended key Ukraine meetings to leave post”:
According to the article, he’s something of a Trumper, so who knows.
Pakistan accused of cover-up over fresh polio outbreak:
The anti-vax nutcases will jump all over that — 12 (probably very young) children are now paralyzed because .
NBC – “Democrats demand Syria plan from Trump”:
Raf Sanchez:
Quote atl. Is there a plan for the Erdoğan visit next week? Like, what’s the US position going in? Are there any prepared statements? Who’s producing them? Who will be in the meetings? Will Trump be left alone with him?
Italian Holocaust survivor given police escort after far-right threats:
NY AG Letitia James:
Link to the judge’s decision here. I think the money now has to go to veterans’ organizations, and that this was the scam first exposed by David Fahrenthold at WaPo.
Ken Dilanian is reading on air a totally dishonest statement from, somehow, the Trump Foundation, which has been dissolved.
“Unusual. WH press pool was gathered outside Oval Office doors when they were told they no longer have access to a scheduled 2:15 event recognizing the National Day for the Victims of Communism with President Trump.”
Many yonks ago there was a plan — which I vaguely recall was briefly implemented — in London (along the Strand and immediate area) to wash the streets and walkways all night to deter / prevent homeless people from sleeping in the area. That has been one of the most absurd methods of dealing with the unfortunate situation I know of — but now there is a new contender for cruelty and absurdity, Las Vegas bans homeless people from sleeping on the street:
Follow-up to @313 (from the Grauniad’s current live States blog):
Some snarking in the Granuiad’s current live States blog, “The impeachment witnesses continue to review their depositions. There are enough memories jogging in DC this week to start a track club.”
NYT – “U.S. Envoy in Syria Says Not Enough Was Done to Avert Turkish Attack”:
George Kent’s testimony has been released. Link atl.
“George Kent says Giuliani was aided by John Solomon, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham to push any entirely false ‘campaign of slander’ against Ambassador Yovanovitch.”
Media Matters – “Fox News has aired over 20 hours of Trump’s campaign rallies live in 2019”:
Good on MSNBC. Unbearably creepy video of Fox people obsequiously praising the rallies atl.
I’m actually hoping that glass contains vodka.
Tweet o’ the day.
WaPo:
9:50 p.m.: Whistleblower’s lawyer sends cease-and-desist letter to Trump
— Craig Timberg
Some news outlets have received excerpts of the book A Warning, by an anonymous senior Trump administration official (the same one who wrote the NYT oped last year). I think WaPo might have the whole book. (Is it McGahn?)
Maddow last night:
“Exclusive: Anonymous Author Depicts Deep Trump Admin Dysfunction”: “Rachel Maddow shares exclusively obtained quotes and excerpts from the forthcoming book ‘A Warning’ by an anonymous author described as ‘a senior official in the Trump administration’, who depicts dark dysfunction in the White House.”
“Book: Trump Recklessness Sparked W.H. ‘Five-Alarm Fire Drills'”: “Rachel Maddow shares some of the first excerpts from the forthcoming book ‘A Warning’ by an anonymous author described as ‘a senior official in the Trump administration’, describing the challenge of briefing Donald Trump in pictures and sound bites and the staff panic of trying to prevent from Trump’s ill-considered decisions.”
Jeff Sessions has announced his run for his old Senate seat, kicking off his campaign with some video groveling.
The House subpoenaed Mick Mulvaney last night to be deposed this morning, in about 10 minutes. He’s not showing.
NBC – “Referee says he told Rep. Jim Jordan that Ohio State doctor performed sex act in shower”:
Currently trending on Twitter: #JimJordanKnew.
Thank you, Just Security!
“Public Document Clearinghouse: Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry”:
“A Who’s Who of Ukraine Witnesses”:
Super helpful.
“NEWS: House committees are expected to release the transcript of former White House official Fiona Hill’s deposition today, two sources tell @JoshNBCNews. One source says that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s transcript is also expected to be released today.”
Matt Zapotosky: “Interesting new detail in this latest from NYT on Trump-Barr tension. Admin seems to be beta testing a defense of Barr “could not recall” Trump asking him for presser. Kinda soft, given Trump’s forceful denial, & seems to address a direct Trump-to-Barr ask, which was not reported.”
Guardian – “Secret chats involving Republican lawmaker reveal fresh evidence of plots and paranoia”:
Much, much more atl. The “G2” part is perfect.
Livetweeting from the Roger Stone trial today.
Trump campaign competition to dine with president condemned as a ‘fraud’:
AP – “Twitter accounts push propaganda photos of Turkish soldiers”:
Of all of the state-backed trolls I’ve seen on Twitter, the Turkish ones are the worst – threatening, mocking, cheering on genocide. They appear right alongside this sort of propaganda, as though there’s no contradiction.
Here’s a link with a link to the full cease-and-desist letter @ tomh’s #325 above. It captures the gravity of the situation.
AFP – “Protests in Hungary as Turkish president visits”: “Hundreds of people protest in Budapest against the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his deadly military offensive in Syria.”
Video atl.
From the Grauniad’s current live States blog:
“Trump on Sondland: ‘I hardly know the gentleman’.”
Video atl. This should go well.
Followup to tomh @325.
And Trump just performed the same “identify the whistleblower” schtick on the White House lawn today!. Trump repeated that the whistleblower’s identity should be revealed because he told a false story. (Not true. The whistleblower’s statement has been corroborated by multiple witnesses.) Trump’s having claimed the whistleblower’s report was false is still no reason to identify, or to threaten him or her. The whistleblower’s lawyers may have to file suit against Trump.
SC @336, I see that various trolls and bots are posting text and images that mock Democrats for being upset that the whistleblower’s identity is at risk of being exposed. The general tenor of those postings is that anything that causes liberals to tear their hair and run around is a good thing.
There’s no hint of understanding the seriousness of the situation, and no hint of concern for people being threatened with physical violence. No ethical standards are in evidence. It’s like a braying mob that has been brainwashed.
Gen. Mazloum re the memo @ #319 above: “Mr. Roebuck is right, and gives a logical analysis. The US was able to prevent Turkish aggression in Norteast Syria and still has the power to stop it.”
Lynna @ #341, it’s chilling.
Trump tweeting about Sondland a month ago.
SC @322, OMFG, that video! Cult of personality. Cult all the way.
JCWI:
From Adam Serwer:
https://twitter.com/AdamSerwer/status/1192458337482395648
Followup to comment 347.
Commentary from Steve Benen:
From the Arizona Republic newspaper:
From CNN:
Link
From Alex Ward:
From earlier Trump statements:
This sounds remarkably like many of the situations described in the new book, “A Warning.” We can’t tell if Trump is lying, if he believes what he says, if he is defying his advisors (and the law), or if he is simply incapable of understanding what his advisors tell him. Trump is at the mercy of his own ill-informed impulses. Yes, he is dangerous.
Anand Giridharadas:
Followup to SC’s comment 327.
About Jeff Session’s groveling, pathetic Senate campaign kickoff video:
Link
Oh, FFS!
Link
A ghost writer. Of course Junior used a ghost writer. And of course Junior sees himself as a victim.
Of course he compares his family’s sacrifices to people buried in Arlington Cemetery.
Throw them all under the bus!
Link
Trump being Trump. The stock market will not know which way to turn.
Link
A discussion about the effect that Democratic control of the Virginia legislature might have on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):
Link
More at the link.
re Lynna @352: Junior:
No, I would definitely NOT call you that. And I doubt that you would find many people who would.
From Wonkette: “‘Anonymous’ Says Trump More Bugf*cking Dumbstupid Than You Ever Knew […]”
Hill transcript link.
Vindman transcript link.
Neither has opened for me yet, I think because so many people are trying to get them at once.
johnson catman @356, Junior didn’t call himself a “stable genius” because his father already took that one. “Hyper-rational,” LOL. “Stoic,” my ass.
Transcripts are loaded now. Vindman’s is 340 pages; Hill’s is 446 (includes the ridiculous Republican intrusion into the SCIF).
“At least 3 other people Trump did this ‘I barely knew him’ thing to, were convicted of felonies & served time in prison – Papadapolous, Manafort, Cohen. Take note Mr. Sondland (& Rudy).”
Schiff with a link to the two transcripts and key excerpts.
Reuters – “Kurds tell EU: Get tough with Turkey or face Islamic State fighters”:
Ahmed will be speaking at LSE next Tuesday (the 12th).
“There it is. McCarthy names Jim Jordan to the Intel Committee ahead of impeachment hearings next week. Rick Crawford ‘has offered to step aside for this charade’ and will rejoin HPSCI after, the GOP leader says.”
My periodic recommendation to read the original complaint in Doe v. The Trump Corporation, which is ongoing (you can see all of the Trump stonewalling and delay tactics in the documents atl) and continues to receive virtually zero attention.
“FIONA HILL: ‘[H]e told me, and this is a direct quote from Ambassador Bolton: You go and tell [John] Eisenberg that I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up on this, and you go and tell him what you’ve heard and what I’ve said’.”
Steve Bannon is testifying right now in the Stone trial.
“Bannon says Stone in conversations in the spring/summer of 2016 ‘implied he had a relationship with WikiLeaks and Julian Assange’.
Note: Bannon says Stone implied he had a personal relationship with Assange, not just an indirect link through an intermediary.”
“Breaking News: John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, has details on the Ukraine affair that lawmakers don’t know about, his lawyer said.”
Then fucking testify.
Tweet o’ the day.
NYT Editorial:
The Billionaires Are Getting Nervous
Bill Gates and others warn that higher taxes would lead to lower growth. They have their facts backward.
By The Editorial Board
Nov. 8, 2019
Mehdi Hasan:
Videos atl. “There are no hate preachers in Christian churches,” the guy exclaims with a straight face.
“Marando: Did you believe that Stone actually knew what happened with WikiLeaks and why they didn’t release documents that day [Oct. 3, 2016]?
Bannon: Yes.”
LOL – “Quebec denies Frenchwoman residency for failing to show command of French.”
From the Hill transcript (p. 345):
For pages and pages it goes on like this, in her exchange with someone, presumably a staffer, named Castor. He’s obsessing over stupid Vogel-based conspiracy theories about Ukraine in 2016, and she’s like dude, focus, this is nonsense, ffs.
Guardian – “Brazil’s former president Lula walks free from prison after supreme court ruling”:
“NEW: WH counsel Cipollone told top NSC lawyer Eisenberg in July to talk to Trump about NSC aides’ concerns that Ukrainians were being unduly pressured. Eisenberg never did that nor reported the complaints to DOJ, believing no crime had been committed.”
NYT link atl.
From text quoted by SC in comment 363:
That is so true. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a extreme social conservative that basks ever more openly in being seen as the ruler who added territory to Turkey. He is building an autocracy.
Useful thread.
From Steve Benen:
“President Trump says he may attend Russia’s May Day Parade: ‘It’s a very big deal, celebrating the end of the war. … I would love to go if I could’.”
I saw former ambassador Nicholas Burns on TV this afternoon talking about how the invitation was something Trump should seriously consider, and how it would almost be an insult to the US troops who fought in WWII to refuse. This is frankly grotesque.
The end of the war:
(Lynne Olson, Last Hope Island, pp. 432-5.)
Decades of oppression for millions of people in Poland and so many other countries followed. The US soldiers were honored on the anniversary of D-Day in June. The Soviet soldiers, who suffered and died in staggering numbers, should be recognized. But they were also Stalin’s victims. The last thing the US should be doing is joining with the current illiberal, anti-democratic, kleptocratic, Stalin-boosting, lying, imperialistic regime in Russia to celebrate the selling out of our values and many of our allies in 1945 and the vast human suffering that ensued. That moment should if anything be used to re-examine historical errors and consider contemporary issues in light of their consequences.
(Macron is going, because of course he is.)
“Meadows tells Swalwell to ‘shut up’ after Dems accuse Republicans of trying to out the whistleblower, which the GOP denies. (Page 78 of Vindman transcript)”
Image atl.
TPM – “Giuliani Buds Pressed Previous Ukraine President For Bogus Investigations, Too!”:
Adam Taylor:
WaPo link atl.
“Could Texas be any more intentional?
Houston voters elect 19 Black women to judgeships.
GOP then introduces bill to replace judicial elections w/governor-appointed judges.
Kicker: Bill would end elections only in counties w/500,000+ people, targeting urban areas like Houston.”
More re #374. Hill is sounding every alarm.
The quote from Jr. @ Lynna’s # 352 above is one of the most offensive things I’ve ever read.
“Fiona’s Hill lawyer Lee Wolosky put in the record that GOP’s counsel, Steve Castor, laughed when Hill described being targeted by Alex Jones and InfoWars.”
That’s who the Castor from #374 is.
WaPo:
Giuliani associates pressed former Ukraine president to announce Biden investigation in exchange for state visit
— Matt Zapotosky and Josh Dawsey
In Japan fairly recently, previously discussed in this series of threads, there was a move to prohibit employers from requiring female staff to wear high-heeled shoes. (From memory, it’s either stalled or been rejected.) A far worse situation has now been uncovered, Japanese women demand right to wear glasses at work:
In the Japanese legal system, that might be the case (I have no idea). But I’d argue it’s more than (quite blatant) discrimination, but a health and safety issue. I myself wear eyeglasses with some fairly “strong” corrections (plural), and refuse to even consider contact lenses (not even sure if they are even possible, but that’s neither here-nor-there). I must wear glasses or I “cannot” see (the cannot in quotes because I’m not inhibited or immobilised, only at a severe disadvantage). Wearing glasses is necessary for overall safety (not only of myself, but also for others I could not clearly see without them), and advantageous to my overall health (e.g., prevents severe headaches).
Longtime Japan resident here and I can tell you that Japan is not woman-friendly. There are very few women in government or at the top levels of companies. They are harassed on trains and expected to stop working when they have children. Childcare is lacking. However, Japanese women have a strength that I’ve seldom seen elsewhere. There’s a popular TV show here that goes around the world interviewing Japanese women who have gone abroad to live their own lives in other places, often in developing countries. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that there are more of them living outside their native country than just about any other nationality. When you consider the way they’re treated in Japan, it’s not surprising.
Politico – “Manafort’s former son-in-law gets 9 years for array of scams.”
Really should be read in full.
Stall, stall is the order of the day. Can’t possibly testify until a court orders them to, because, Constitution.
WaPo:
Mulvaney asks to join lawsuit over conflicting demands for impeachment testimony
By Derek Hawkins
November 9, 2019 at 2:36 a.m. PST
They know that, with any luck, it will be well into next year, if then, before anything is settled and it will all be academic.
In Canada (well, Quebec, which is in Canada whether or not other Canadians like it), Quebec denies Frenchwoman residency for failing to show command of French:
As an aside, being a French citizen is significant (probably). One of the requirements for (naturalised) French citizenship is a rather good understanding of Française, more than sufficient that any claim the person (see below) is patently absurd.
● ‘The Onion’ Launches New Cover-Up Desk To Suppress Today’s Most Damning Stories (quoted in full):
● ABC News Fires Hot Mic For Converting Sound Waves Of Anchor Revealing Network Spiked Epstein Story:
● The Onion’s Tips For Testifying Before Congress:
Daily Beast – “For Kurds on the Syrian Front Line There’s No Ceasefire”:
Much more atl.
Yahoo – “PHOTOS: For Syrian Kurds, and aid workers – the ‘safe zone’ is not so safe”:
Photos atl.
SOHR – “After the death and injury of several members in Turkish shelling, regime forces withdraw with their heavy vehicles from several villages between Tal Tamr and Abu Rasin, leaving SDF alone in repelling violent and large-scale attacks by factions on the area”:
LOL.
Kurdistan 24 – “Turkish offensive in northern Syria forced Christians to evacuate villages”:
Tweet thread o’ the day.
From Kerry Eleveld:
Funny.
https://twitter.com/TheGoodLiars/status/1192581234553237504
From Mark Sumner:
Link
“BREAKING: Here’s the GOP witness list for the public impeachment hearings, as requested by Devin Nunes.
List includes Hunter Biden, the whistleblower, and the whistleblower’s sources.
His full letter to Schiff:…”
Nellie Ohr.
The GOP Just Released Its Own Witness List for Impeachment Inquiries—and It’s All About Biden and Clinton
Devin Nunes wants to talk about anything but Trump’s “perfect” phone call
Chairman Schiff is going to have to work hard to keep the hearings on track. Republicans want a circus. Schiff wants hearings.
Followup to 402 and 403.
From Adam Schiff:
Poll: 65% of Republicans say Trump’s Ukraine scheme was normal presidential behavior.
Link
The Homophobic Activist Who Won an Audience with Two Supreme Court Justices
New Yorker link
@ 405
If we cannot agree on what does or doesn’t constitute political corruption, then there is no way our society can survive.
Guardian – “Ahmet Altan: I’m free but my friends still languish in Turkish jails.”
OMFG!
https://twitter.com/AricToler/status/1192883735865286660
Comments from Wonkette:
Followup to comment 409.
From Trump:
Rep. Malinowski:
From Maddow last night – “Witness Paints Trump Scheme, Russian Threat In Vivid Detail”: “Rachel Maddow reads highlights from the transcript of the testimony of former senior NSC official Fiona Hill before the House impeachment committees, including details of Donald Trump’s Ukraine scheme being implemented and stern admonitions to take the Russian threat seriously and not be distracted by specious conspiracy theories.”
My one criticism would be that because it focuses so much on Hill’s words (see #s 374 and 385 above), it suggests that she’s cutting him off before he can really get into the conspiracy theories, when in fact he’s previously gone there over and over.
(Link to the full transcript @ #358.)
The Hill – “Erdogan guards attacked US Secret Service after protestors in 2017, new documents show”:
Tom Harper, Sunday Times:
Carole Cadwalladr:
Videos at the links.
“…After his favor-seeking call with Zelenskyy, Trump speaks with Putin on July 31.
Mid-September, Kremlin-controlled Russian state TV urges Trump to keep digging in Ukraine….”
I haven’t yet read the Sunday Times piece @ #413, but Carole Cadwalladr says “The thing is that the names of these Russian donors is public record. In fact everything in this ‘leak’ is public record. This is the stuff we already know. So what don’t we know? What’s Johnson suppressing? And why?”
She recommends this CNN report by Nina dos Santos I’d completely missed – “UK inquiry was warned of Russian infiltration, leaked testimony shows”:
and this comprehensive Byline Times article by Peter Jukes – “RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN BRITAIN: What Johnson Doesn’t Want You to Know”:
Far too much to excerpt.
“Please watch this. The blocking of the Russia report is last in long line of profoundly disturbing actions govt has taken to prevent truth coming out. Listen to Dominic Grieve & @IanCLucas. Is there any way of describing this which isn’t a cover-up??”
Video atl. You’ll be shocked to learn that the Arcuri investigation has also been shelved.
I can’t…what… “Woman’s arms found in backpack of Russian professor”:
“For the first time, US armored #Bradley armored vehicles from #Til_Tamir pass to #Kobani by #M4 road.”
Pictures atl.
Quotes from new WaPo article about Turkey’s proxy army (link atl):
I wish journalists would start asking Trump and his apologists to provide a detailed narrative of what they’re claiming happened. The whistleblower complaint and subsequent testimony and documents all tell a clear story. There’s a narrative which is consistent with the evidence. The Trumpublicans have produced nothing close to this, and haven’t been asked to. Same with the Russia investigation.
I feel like…the Awwwww cats Twitter videos might be fake.
“With Trump confirming that Erdogan’s visit is still on, I just want to remind folks that last time he was here, his goons beat peaceful protesters with impunity in the streets of our national capital.
Nine people were hospitalized. Trump said nothing…”
Video atl.
Eat the rich.
WaPo:
America’s billionaires take center stage in national politics, colliding with populist Democrats
“For the first time ever, we are having a national political conversation about billionaires in American life,” a historian said.
By Jeff Stein
November 9, 2019 at 10:43 a.m. PST
Retribution coming from the Trump administration:
That doesn’t sound like “streamlining.”
TPM link
Followup to comment 424.
From the readers comments:
Who finally released the aid to Ukraine. Why? When?
TPM link
From the readers comments:
The whistleblower complaint was announced by Schiff on Sept. 7. Bolton purportedly ordered release of the funds on September 9.
Trump is undermining the military justice system.
Link
Details at the link.
Trump used money raised for vets as campaign slush fund. That alone should end his political career
From the Daily Kos article:
From Amy Klobuchar:
The President of Bolivia has resigned:
Link
People raise thousands for man who allegedly stabbed ‘Trump Baby’ balloon in Alabama.
Link
@431
Ugh! Right-wing bastards whinge about the prospect about paying slightly-higher taxes to help pay for needed social services, yet they’ll pass the hat around to bail out a fellow redneck.
Anthem.
Lovely..
Bonnie Fucking Raitt.
Farage has announced that he’s not going to stand candidates in the 317 seats the Tories won in 2017. This is a huge climbdown for Farage – Johnson has made no concessions to him, at least in public, since Farage announced plans last week to stand 600 candidates – and an undoubted boost for Johnson. There’s speculation Farage was ordered to do this by his master, Trump (presumably passing on instructions from his master, Putin). Farageist candidates may still take votes from the Tories in seats they are hoping to win, but his “party” (it isn’t legally a political party, but a private company) has been dropping in the polls in any case. So far, it very much looks like a clear majority for the Tories on December 12th. So it did at the equivalent stage in 2017, and the eventual result was rather different, but there is no particular reason to expect that exceptional event (campaigns don’t usually cause big shifts in the UK) to be repeated.
For several weeks, maybe more, Republicans have been complaining about so-called “secret” impeachment inquiry hearings that Democrats are holding. (None of the hearings are secret, and Republican committee members can be present, and they can pose questions to the witnesses. Moreover, transcripts of those hearings have been released.) The “process” argument from Republicans, meant to delegitimize the impeachment inquiry, was also a smokescreen meant to distract the public’s attention away from Trump actually did. Republicans demanded public hearings, more openness, more transparency.
Then this happened on the White House lawn:
Yep. That’s what he said. Republicans claimed the media had “misreported” what Trump said.
Get your stories straight. Sheesh.
Then on Saturday morning, Trump told reporters that he did not care if the hearings are public.
Trump does not agree with himself.
re Lynna @437: The Orange Toddler-Tyrant has been on both sides of almost every issue . . . both sides.
Some thoughts from Steve Benen on the Republican argument that Congress should drop the impeachment inquiry because an election is around the corner, and the American people can decide if Trump should remain in office or not:
Link
Putin will not play fair.
johnson cayman @438, too true. Amazingly, when Trump reveals he is on both sides of every issue, he still manages to be wrong. He’s just wrong twice, once this way, once that way.
In other news, don’t cry for Donald Junior. He deserved this.
The video is available at the link.
@ 439
As I have said on so many other occasions on so many other issues, there are some matters that are too important to leave to fickle, uninformed, greedy, and superstitious whims of the mob. The guilt or innocence of a sitting president shouldn’t be one of them.
Kentucky Republicans have backed down from the plot they were cooking up to steal the gubernatorial election. A massive outcry is causing them to backtrack.
Link
It is my understanding that:
1) The President is not elected by “the American people”, except indirectly.
2) The election is not “around the corner”, it’s still several blocks away, but making a lot of noise as it approaches. As for the effect of his first term, Trump isn’t a lame duck yet either, even though he may walk like one.
3) If the President has indeed committed crimes, a formal investigation on those crimes should be the best possible way to support informed voting.
Lynna @440: I don’t know if it is a typo or what, but that is the second time you have referred to me as “johnson cayman”. It is “johnson catman” please.
From Josh Marshall:
Yes, Mulvaney may be playing that card. Maybe that, in part, accounts for why Bolton is so mad at Mulvaney and wants Mulvaney to get his own damned lawsuit. Bolton wants the limelight. And he wants it now.
Bolton is a narcissist. That alone makes me think that he will find a way to testify, while also employing CYA tactics.
johnson catman, @444. My apologies. I think that may have been an auto-correct, but I’m not sure. I am sorry. I will give my typing fingers a stern lecture.
Well, Rick Perry got something out of the Ukraine scandal: he got his donors an exclusive contract.
TPM link
Yeah, that all looks above board and perfect.
Followup to comment 447.
From the readers comments:
lumipuna @443, thanks for that. Succinct, and correct.
In other news, Joe Biden has a Delaware problem.
How Joe Biden helped build a financial system that’s great for Delaware banks and terrible for the rest of us.
Link
From Nancy Cook:
Iran is enriching more uranium:
Link
Hey, Trump, it sounds like everybody but you wants to make a deal … or to at least restore the deal you broke.
@ Lynna #442
They may be backing down in Kentucky, but it looks like a sign of what’s to come in 2020.
NYT:
Close Election in Kentucky Was Ripe for Twitter, and an Omen for 2020
By Matthew Rosenberg and Nick Corasaniti
Nov. 10, 2019
As an aside, the last time a Kentucky governor’s election was contested, in 1899, the governor was assassinated and it almost provoked a civil war in the state. They took their elections seriously back then.
Uh…sorry for the interjected musical interludes last night.
Also, WOW.
NBC – “Judges tosses Trump suit over New York tax returns, rejects conspiracy claim”:
(In a cable news panel a few weeks ago, the pundits were doing the thing where they bash Democrats in the guise of offering unsolicited advice. The conversation turned, as it does, to how the Dems were confusing “regular people” with their legalistic DC language. One of the commentators offered as an example… “shall” (as in “the Treasury Secretary ‘shall furnish’ the requested tax returns or return information to the relevant committee”). Shall! Yes, the Dems are leaving ordinary Americans hopelessly confused with their highfalutin five-letter words.)
Republican representative Peter King (New York) has announced he won’t run for re-election. There’s already a Democratic candidate for his district, and this will make it even more competitive.
Guardian – “British founder of White Helmets found dead in Istanbul”:
Guardian – “UK government delay of Russia report is shaming, says Clinton.”
Carole Cadwalladr: “Boris Johnson is a national security risk. This is his personal decision. If the report contains information pertinent to the election, he is deliberately subjecting us to harm from a hostile foreign power for personal political gain.”
tomh @452, well that’s depressing, and distressing. If they don’t win, they will whine a lot, they will invent voter fraud scenarios that don’t really exists, and they will employ bots and trolls to push disinformation. Sheesh!
In other news, it looks like some officials at the EPA are being investigated … again:
Politico link
Tweet o’ the day.
The House has released Pentagon official Laura Cooper’s deposition transcript.
Links to full transcript and key excerpts atl.
The second link @ #460 seems to be the same as the first. Here’s Schiff’s link to both:
“Laura Cooper’s testimony reveals how Trump froze Congressionally-approved aid to Ukraine. Cooper raised concerns about this hold, as did others.
She also told us how Volker implied the hold might be resolved if the Ukrainians issued a statement.
Read:…”
WTAF.
Greg Sargent:
Jon Favreau:
Here’s the video of Himes yesterday on MTP.
So far, the media aren’t giving me much reason for optimism. Several today have asked Democrats and each other what the Democrats have to do to present the story in a clear way to the public. Here’s a novel idea: why don’t you present the story in a clear way to the public, and leave the theater reviews to the reviewers?
“MORE DEPOSITIONS… two former aides to Kurt Volker….”
Transcripts from Catherine Croft and Christopher Anderson depositions atl.
“OMB put a separate, earlier hold on Javelin missiles to Ukraine because Mick Mulvaney was concerned that ‘Russia would react negatively’, according to State Dept. official Catherine Croft. OMB was the lone objector.”
Julia Davis:
“NEWS: Lawyers for Mick Mulvaney late today said they are withdrawing their motion to intervene in the Charles Kupperman lawsuit.
They will file their own lawsuit as a separate case, NBC’S Pete Williams reports.”
“ANDERSON, a State official, said Trump called Bolton at home in Jan. 2019 to complain about a CNN story that made it seem like the Navy was pushing back on Russian aggression in the Black Sea.
ANDERSON says the WH canceled a ‘routine’ naval freedom-of-passage maneuver in the black sea after a CNN report made it appear to be a repsonse to Russian aggression.
The move was rescheduled later for the 5th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Crimea.”
I hope the media is starting to get that this isn’t about Trump’s ego.
“Priest of Armenian Catholic Church Hovsep Petoyan (Hanna Ibrahim) and his father Ibrahim Hanna Bido were shot dead on the road from Hasakah to Deir-ez-Zor to restore the Armenian church. ISIS claimed responsibility for the execution.”
“Horrific scenes in Qamishlo NE Syria where multiple explosions reported. One of the explosion reportedly occurre near Chaldean Christian Church, one other in a busy market. Possibly there is a third explosion. Deads and injuries reported.”
Guardian – “Syrian Kurd leader hits out at UK’s ‘almost invisible’ response to Turkish invasion”:
Politico – “House lawmakers urge Trump to rescind Erdoğan’s White House invite”:
Ilhan Omar has now signed on, which is a step in the right direction.
Mustafa Bali: “We have had a productive meeting and press conference with @OIRSpox Col. Myles Caggins and discussed several topics in Hasakah today. Thank you for your visit again.”
Photos atl.
From yesterday:
“‘In addition to the areas where they are now deployed, US forces will be deployed alongside SDF in the areas of:
Qamishlo
Jazira,
Deir-ez-Zor
Shaddadi
Derik
and Heseke’.
SDF general commander @MazloumAbdi, speaking to local radio today.”
The late Rep. Elijah Cummings widow was on Rachel Maddow announcing she would be running for her husbands seat. She also has a health issue which she is addressing. Impressed me as a formidable candidate. Video in the morning if available.
What Commander Bone Spurs was attempting to talk about in SC’s link @462.
Maybe he realized people might notice the contrast between Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds and himself.
Link to Maya Rockeymoore Cummings announcement on Rachel Maddow last night.
Thanks, militantagnostic @ #474.
From that link:
From the official WH transcript of yesterday’s speech:
In the video, though, he doesn’t say “That’s something.” He steps back and literally just says “Something.” Did the part about being tried for war crimes on the TelePrompter strike such fear in him that he physically recoiled from the microphone and could only sputter out “something”? Or did his basic reading skills fail him once again?
I also think he’s making the ridiculous claims about the Democrats doctoring transcripts in part because he’s pushing people to doctor transcripts left and right.
“Turkish army is firing live bullets on Kurdish protesters and killing them in broad day light, before eyes of the whole world. Kurds are being killed in their homes by whom the US&Russia claim the region would be safer with! Stop the reckless and coward attacks on civilians now!”
Warning: graphic video at the link.
openDemocracy – “Number 10 abused its power by demanding cover-up of donors and friends of Boris in report on Russian influence”:
From Politico’s “The insider’s guide to the impeachment hearings”:
Feel the populism.
Michael McFaul: “Why does Trump express constant and consistent fealty towards Putin?”
“Prosecutors intnd to issue a superseding indictment against the Russians who mounted a propaganda campaign during the 2016 election.
The new indcitment won’t add defendants or charges but will allege a broader impact on the FEC’s functioning than the original.”
Politico – “Federal health contract funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Trump allies”:
Livetweeting from the Roger Stone trial. Rick Gates is testifying.
“Now getting to the key call at the end of July where Rick Gates is with Donald Trump when Stone calls. But when AUSA asks what Trump said after the call, defense objects. At the bench.”
They’re still there.
“Zelinsky gets to ask the question.
‘After Mr. Trump got off the phone with Mr. Stone, what did then-candidate Trump say?’
Gates: ‘He indicated that more information would be coming’.”
“Here is a memo Schiff sent to Democrats this morning, including procedures for public hearings starting tomorrow:…”
Link atl.
“Gates says Stone told him as far back as April that information would be leaked out by WikiLeaks. So they had been hoping and waiting for it since then.”
“The timeline is important.
Lots of Russia hacking occurred in March/April 2016, per special counsel indictment.
Julian Assange announced publicly that he had Clinton-related material he planned to publish in June.
Stone told Gates in April WikiLeaks would leak info.”
Yes, this is very early. Hm.
SC @484, as long as Trump himself is not paying, such corrupt behavior is fine with him. As long as taxpayers’ money is being used to feed the creatures in the swamp, all is fine. Disgusting.
Talking points from the GOP, unpersuasive talking points, but it is all they’ve got:
Commentary from Steve Benen:
Today, Trump added Dreamers to his growing “no angels” category:
Commentary:
Link
From the New York Times:
From the American Lung Association’s Paul Billings:
From Emily Atkin:
https://twitter.com/emorwee/status/1194226357460512768
WaPo:
Watergate hearings were a TV spectacle. Now veteran journalists are demanding PBS offer the same access.
By Meagan Flynn
November 11, 2019 at 4:17 a.m. PST
Bill Moyers and writer Michael Winship paid for a full page ad in Friday’s New York Times, calling for PBS to air the impeachment proceedings in prime time.
From Walter Einenkel:
Link
tomh @494, I didn’t see your comment before I posted comment 495. Ah, well, a little repetition is justified in this case.
“WASHINGTON (AP) _ Mick Mulvaney says he won’t sue over the House impeachment proceedings after all. It’s the latest reversal in position by Mulvaney, who last week asked to join the lawsuit of another Trump adviser before saying Monday that he intended to bring his own case.”
Lynna @ #496
It is outrageous. I remember watching those hearings, there had never been anything like it on TV. PBS is not the same, though, Moyers and his kind are gone.