https://twitter.com/joanwalsh/status/1189978747342147584
Joan Walsh ✔ @joanwalsh

I love New York



2:53 PM - Oct 31, 2019 · Manhattan, NY

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/impeachment-is-going-public-republicans-will-find-it-harder-to-hide/2019/10/31/d711c504-fbfc-11e9-8190-6be4deb56e01_story.html

By Editorial Board

Oct. 31, 2019 at 3:16 p.m. EDT

HOUSE DEMOCRATS took an important step in the impeachment process Thursday by approving a resolution that will open what, so far, have been closed hearings, with due-process guarantees for President Trump and his defenders. Predictably, Republicans who spent weeks demanding just such transparency and fairness voted unanimously against the resolution. Nevertheless, the open hearings that will now take place should allow Americans to hear and understand how Mr. Trump attempted to coerce the Ukrainian government into helping his 2020 reelection campaign. For their part, Republicans might have to take a stand on whether that behavior was proper.

Mr. Trump and his lawyers will have the opportunity to make statements, question witnesses and call their own, with the concurrence of the committee chairman. The rules are virtually identical to those adopted by Republicans when they pursued the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998 — which makes their breathless claims about a “Soviet” process ludicrous as well as dishonest. One wrinkle is a provision that if Mr. Trump “unlawfully” refuses to make witnesses available or produce documents — as he has so far — the committee chair may restrict the president’s privileges. It seems only reasonable that Mr. Trump should not be allowed to call his own witnesses while blocking those sought by Democrats.

For now, it appears there are numerous honorable public servants willing to testify to Mr. Trump’s abuses, despite White House efforts to silence them. The latest on Thursday was Tim Morrison, a conservative Republican who served as senior adviser for Russia and Ukraine on the National Security Council.

According to The Post, Mr. Morrison offered firsthand confirmation of two crucial moments in Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign against the Ukrainians. He said that he told the senior U.S. diplomat in Kyiv, William B. Taylor Jr., that the Ukrainians had been informed that U.S. military aid would be withheld until they announced an investigation of a gas company that employed Joe Biden’s son Hunter. In another conversation, Mr. Morrison told Mr. Taylor that Mr. Trump, during a phone call with Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, had insisted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announce an investigation of the Bidens as well as of Ukraine’s alleged role in the 2016 election.

</snip>

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lebanon-defense-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-withholding-105-million-in-security-aid-for-lebanon-sources-idUSKBN1XA2QX?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true

OCTOBER 31, 2019 / 6:17 PM / UPDATED 8 MINUTES AGO

Patricia Zengerle, Mike Stone


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon, two U.S. officials said on Thursday, two days after the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

The State Department told Congress on Thursday that the White House budget office and National Security Council had decided to withhold the foreign military assistance, the two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not say why the aid was blocked. One of the sources said the State Department did not give Congress a reason for the decision.

The State Department declined to comment.

<snip>

The official said drawing aid away from Lebanon could pave the way for Russia to move in. Russia has expanded its influence in Syria since Trump announced he was withdrawing U.S. forces from the northeastern part of the country.

</snip>

https://twitter.com/davidcicilline/status/1190016659823767554
David Cicilline ✔ @davidcicilline

This is a voicemail I got this week. Blind loyalty to the President is one thing. This is something else.

Embedded video

5:24 PM - Oct 31, 2019

https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/1189953841707573248
Ann Coulter ✔ @AnnCoulter

No she didn't. Tulsi is a SENATOR, meaning she's in the SENATE and doesn't vote on HOUSE resolutions.

Catturd @catturd2

For all you foolish Tulsi Gabbard fans ...

She just voted for the illegal impeachment coup.

She's just a better looking Nancy Pelosi.

1:14 PM - Oct 31, 2019

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/10/31/bob-traxler-death-michigan-congress/4108247002/

Former US Rep. 'Bingo Bob' Traxler dies at 88, served in Washington nearly 20 years

Todd Spangler, Detroit Free PressPublished 10:32 a.m. ET Oct. 31, 2019 | Updated 11:02 a.m. ET Oct. 31, 2019


Jerome Bob Traxler, also known as J. Bob Traxler or Bob Traxler, a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. (Photo: Associated Press)

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Traxler, a Bay City Democrat who moved from the state House of Representatives to Congress and served in Washington for nearly two decades, died Wednesday night. He was 88.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, noted Traxler's passing in a Facebook post, saying, "He did much good for many people, loved Michigan, his district and Mackinac Island." Details about his death and funeral services were not immediately available.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, also extended his condolences to Traxler's family.

"I remember watching Bob’s career from a young age and admiring his work for our state. I am grateful that I was able to depend on Bob’s advice after being elected to Congress," said Kildee, who represents the area once represented by Traxler.

Born in Kawkawlin in Bay County, Jerome Bob Traxler attended Michigan State University and later became a lawyer and served as a prosecutor. Elected to the state House of Representatives in 1962, he served for 12 years, winning the nickname of "Bingo Bob" for his role in helping to write the state's law on bingo and lotteries.

</snip>

https://www.breakingac.com/2019/10/former-congressman-william-hughes-dead-at-87/

Former Congressman William Hughes dead at 87

October 31, 2019 9:37 am Lynda Cohen



Former Congressman William Hughes has died, his family announced Thursday.
He had recently turned 87.
“Bill Hughes was the epitome of what a public servant ought to be,” said Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman. “He exuded a sense of civility with respect to everything he did in life, and he was unwaveringly committed to exhibiting that noble conduct to those with whom he came in contact. We are extremely grateful for his having chosen Stockton to house his memorabilia, and we are a far, far better place as a result of his center being an integral part of what we hold dear as a University. He will be sorely missed.”

Hughes left his mark on the area, with both the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center named after him in 1996.

Stockton University’s William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy is also named in his honor.

“His story is forever tied to the recent history of this region,” said John Froonjian, interim executive director of the Hughes Center. “The Hughes Center for Public Policy mourns the passing of our namesake, our mentor and our friend. We rededicate our efforts to promote civic engagement and civility in our public conversations to the memory of Ambassador Hughes.”

Hughes served 10 two-year terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning in 1974.

“As our 2nd District representative, Congressman Hughes was a leader on the environment, ocean quality, pinelands preservation, and keeping what is now the William J. Hughes Technical Center from moving to Oklahoma. He was a national leader on legislation concerning guns, crime, aging issues and trademark and copyright law,” Froonjian said.

</snip>

https://twitter.com/Strandjunker/status/1189949374895443970
Andrea Junker @Strandjunker

Take Nixon, add climate denial, add pedophilia, add child concentration camps, add sexual assault, add rape, add nepotism, add white supremacy, add murder cover-ups, add treason, add genocide, add Twitter, subtract 97 IQ points, and you have Trump today. #ImpeachmentVote

12:56 PM - Oct 31, 2019

https://twitter.com/RepGosar/status/1189932264483889153
Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS ✔ @RepGosar

Where did she park her broom? 🧹

CNN Politics ✔ @CNNPolitics

Replying to @CNNPolitics
Speakers of House traditionally don't vote. But Nancy Pelosi did today https://cnn.it/2q6bCZ4

11:48 AM - Oct 31, 2019

https://twitter.com/TeamPelosi/status/1189924550420697090
Nancy Pelosi ✔ @TeamPelosi

We cannot ignore that we take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

And we cannot — and *we will not* — ignore the unacceptable conduct of a President who abuses his power for personal and political gain.

The times have found us to safeguard our democracy.

CAP Action ✔ @CAPAction

"When we have a president who says 'Article 2 says I can do whatever I want,' that is in defiance of the separation of powers...

So what is at stake? Our democracy.

What are we fighting for? Defending our democracy for the people." —@SpeakerPelosi

Embedded video

11:18 AM - Oct 31, 2019

https://twitter.com/RepSpeier/status/1189910225526104064
Jackie Speier ✔ @RepSpeier

Devin Nunes calling the Intelligence Committee’s fact-finding mission a cult is dispicable. I know about cults. Cults are led by maniacal narcissists who expect complete adoration and relinquishment of independent thought. I suggest Mr. Nunes look elsewhere.

10:21 AM - Oct 31, 2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Speier

Speier entered politics by serving as a congressional staffer for Congressman Leo Ryan. Speier was part of his November 1978 fact-finding mission organized to investigate allegations of human-rights abuses by Jim Jones and his Peoples Temple followers, almost all of whom were American citizens who had moved to Jonestown, Guyana, with Jones in 1977 and 1978. Speier was one of two members of the mission who made wills before traveling to Jonestown.

Several Peoples Temple members ambushed the investigative team and others boarding the plane to leave Jonestown on November 18. Five people died, including Congressman Ryan. While trying to shield herself from rifle and shotgun fire behind small airplane wheels with other team members, Speier was shot five times and waited 22 hours before help arrived. That same day, over 900 remaining members of the Peoples Temple died in Jonestown and Georgetown in a mass murder-suicide.