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pecosbob
pecosbob's Journal
pecosbob's Journal
December 7, 2018
Can everyone now join me in a collective "Duhhh'?
Fox Host: Giuliani Attacks Mueller To Convince Public Trump Shouldn't Be Indicted
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fox-host-giuliani-attacks-mueller-convince-trump-not-indictedFox News analyst and columnist Andrew Napolitano wrote in a recent column that President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani has told his friends that the real reason he bashes special counsel Robert Mueller is not to change the outcome of the investigation, but rather to convince the public that Trump shouldn’t be indicted or impeached if that’s what it comes down to.
He has assumed two roles for his most famous client — as legal strategist and as cheerleader,” he wrote in an editorial Thursday. “As a legal strategist, he brings a wealth of experience in federal criminal procedure, but he has no serious experience defending a person accused by the feds — hence his morphing into the cheerleading role, in which he has candidly acknowledged to friends that his goal is not to dissuade the special counsel from pursuing his client but to influence public opinion so that if an indictment or impeachment of Trump were to come down, it would generally be unacceptable to the public.”
Can everyone now join me in a collective "Duhhh'?
December 7, 2018
WSJ: Prosecutors Are Scrutinizing Flynn Firm's Turkey Lobbying
A grand jury empaneled in Virginia is sorting through and seeking additional information about the Flynn Intel Group’s efforts to discredit U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, according to the Journal.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/prosecutors-scrutinizing-flynn-intel-group-turkey-lobbying
https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-looking-at-turkey-lobbying-by-michael-flynns-ex-firm-1544150269
Prosecutors are reportedly seeking information on the activities and involvement of the Turkish businessman who paid $530,000 for the Gulen project, Ekim Alptekin. They’re also interested in Flynn’s former partner at the firm, Bijan Kian. Neither man provided comment to the Journal.
December 7, 2018
GOP Sen: Stop Nominating People With 'Questionable Records On Race'
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/scott-stop-noms-quesiton-record-raceSen. Tim Scott (R-SC) submitted a letter to The Wall Street Journal on Thursday in response to an editorial on judicial nominee Thomas Farr this week that argued Democrats should stop calling racism to advance their agenda.
Scott agreed that while a nominee’s history “should be seen through a wider lens, the solution isn’t simply to decry ‘racial attacks.'”
“Instead, we should stop bringing candidates with questionable track records on race before the full Senate for a vote,” he wrote. “What this means, regardless of the obvious issues the Democratic Party has on race, is that the Republican Party must strive to do better. We can build on the momentum of opportunity zones and criminal-justice reform to show we are serious about tackling real issues facing people of color. I know conservative solutions can transform lives, but if folks don’t trust us, implementing those solutions becomes impossible.”
Scott agreed that while a nominee’s history “should be seen through a wider lens, the solution isn’t simply to decry ‘racial attacks.'”
“Instead, we should stop bringing candidates with questionable track records on race before the full Senate for a vote,” he wrote. “What this means, regardless of the obvious issues the Democratic Party has on race, is that the Republican Party must strive to do better. We can build on the momentum of opportunity zones and criminal-justice reform to show we are serious about tackling real issues facing people of color. I know conservative solutions can transform lives, but if folks don’t trust us, implementing those solutions becomes impossible.”
December 7, 2018
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211521521
Maybe that's why 14 angry democrats just became 17...
So...it looks like McCabe opened an obstruction investigation of Trump before Mueller was hired
CNN reported tonight...
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211521521
Maybe that's why 14 angry democrats just became 17...
December 6, 2018
I've been waiting for this to come back into the news...
On a side note, guess who was also at that meeting? Everyone's favorite obstructionist Devin Nunes.
Also interesting to me is where Flynn chose to publish...The Hill, everyone's favorite right wing disinformation source.
Mueller, For First Time Publicly, Nods To Cleric Flynn Allegedly Plotted To Remove
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/for-first-time-publicly-mueller-nods-to-cleric-flynn-allegedly-plotted-to-removeI've been waiting for this to come back into the news...
The sentencing memo that special counsel Robert Mueller filed Monday for Michael Flynn marked the first time in public filings that Mueller referenced a U.S.-based Turkish cleric who was the target of a kidnapping plot that the former National Security Advisor allegedly discussed with Turkish officials in 2016.
“The defendant’s false statements impeded the ability of the public to learn about the Republic of Turkey’s efforts to influence public opinion about the failed coup, including its efforts to effectuate the removal of a person legally residing in the United States,” Mueller’s filing said.
On a side note, guess who was also at that meeting? Everyone's favorite obstructionist Devin Nunes.
Also interesting to me is where Flynn chose to publish...The Hill, everyone's favorite right wing disinformation source.
December 6, 2018
Chairwoman Of PAC That Ran Racist Ad Appointed To Minority Affairs Office
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pac-chairwoman-that-ran-racist-ad-appointed-to-minority-affairs-officeWest Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appointed Jill Upson, chairwoman of a PAC called Black Americans for the President’s Agenda, to head West Virginia’s Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs just months after her organization ran a racist ad about Democrats lynching black men.
The ad, which ran in late October for Rep. French Hill (R-AK), featured two seemingly black women discussing the likelihood that white Democrats would start lynching black men as part of the #MeToo movement.
Both Hill and Upson denounced the ad — Upson tried to wash her hands of any responsibility. “Upon listening to the ad last night, I contacted the organization’s founder and demanded that it be removed from the air and no longer played,” she wrote in a Facebook post. However, her words seemed to have had no effect on the playing of the ads.
December 6, 2018
My question to Michiganders is what are you going to do about it?
Hey Michiganders...on Monday Michigan Republicans voted to take dollars out of your pocket
Michigan Republicans Just Repealed a Minimum Wage Increase During a Lame-Duck Session
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/12/michigan-republicans-minimum-wage-sick-leave-lame-duck-rick-snyder-gretchen-
Late this summer, it seemed almost inevitable that Michigan would be one of a handful of states this election cycle to pass ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and require paid sick leave. Both proposals received more than the required number of signatures to get on the ballot. But in early September, the state Legislature preempted the ballot measures and adopted the proposals. What would have seemed like a win for organizers quickly brought concern. Advocates feared that the Republican-controlled state Legislature had only made the decision so it could gut those new laws in the lame-duck session following the election.
And they were right. With just weeks before their majority dwindles in the state’s House and Senate and Michigan’s Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is replaced by Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, the GOP-stacked Legislature is rushing to rewrite the laws it previously adopted. Less than a week after a set of weakened versions of the minimum wage and paid sick leave laws passed the Senate, the House passed them late Tuesday evening as protests from the gallery echoed through the chamber. The bills now just await Snyder’s signature.
My question to Michiganders is what are you going to do about it?
December 5, 2018
Public servants...what non-pols would you like to acknowledge for their contributions to our society
Not talking celebrities here, but people who have proven themselves to be outstanding public servants despite not holding office.
I would like to take a step forward and celebrate the long years of public service by Amy Goodman, author, journalist and host of "Democracy Now'. I listened to Pacifica Radio in Houston as a boy and through the decades as Ms. Goodman (and Bill Moyer) brought 'real news' to all who might listen....all the stories the main stream press refused to cover. The KKK bombed the local transmitter and offices multiple times over the years for their efforts, but for almost fifty years I have been able to find the truth there, without any corporate slant or agenda. Kudos to Ms. Goodman and all those that work with her.
Just my wasted post of the day...
December 5, 2018
I hope this is a major part of the Dem platform for 2020...
Rohrabacher's climate denial helped swing conservative California district, survey shows
https://thinkprogress.org/rohrabachers-poor-record-on-climate-helped-swing-conservative-california-district-survey-finds-72ba723e43fd/California’s historic wildfires, combined with the climate denial views of one Republican incumbent, appear to have helped sway voters in the state to elect a Democrat in a longtime conservative congressional district during the midterm elections, new analysis shows.
On November 6, real estate developer Harley Rouda (D) defeated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), a 15-term incumbent, to represent the 48th congressional district of California, which stretches along the Pacific coastline of Orange County from Seal Beach to Laguna Beach.
For the survey, voters in the district were asked questions about the election and the impact of the advertisement, titled “Fire & Smoke.” The script of the advertisement focused on wildfires and climate change:
While it gets hotter and fire and smoke choke our air, Dana Rohrabacher is radically opposed to efforts to fight climate change. He says that “global warming is a fraud.” Rohrabacher sided with fossil fuel companies and voted against a plan to reduce carbon dioxide pollution, saying they don’t hurt people’s health.
More than two thirds of voters in the district — including 71 percent of swing voters — recall having seen the climate advertisement.
While it gets hotter and fire and smoke choke our air, Dana Rohrabacher is radically opposed to efforts to fight climate change. He says that “global warming is a fraud.” Rohrabacher sided with fossil fuel companies and voted against a plan to reduce carbon dioxide pollution, saying they don’t hurt people’s health.
More than two thirds of voters in the district — including 71 percent of swing voters — recall having seen the climate advertisement.
The respondents cited Rohrabacher’s stance on climate change as a main reason for their opposition, along with his ties to Putin’s Russia, his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, the presidency of fellow Republican Donald Trump, and Rohrabacher’s 30-year tenure in Congress.
I hope this is a major part of the Dem platform for 2020...
December 5, 2018
Oh, yeah? That's not what you said last year...
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fcc-chair-says-russian-email-addresses-submitted-public-net-neutrality-comments
FCC Chair Says 'Russian Email Addresses' Submitted Public Net Neutrality Comments
Though the Federal Communications Commission on Monday denied reporters’ requests for records relating to millions of public comments submitted last year about net neutrality, Chairman Ajit Pai made a surprising claim in justifying his decision: The Russians did it.
Oh, yeah? That's not what you said last year...
The FCC’s net neutrality decision-making process has been subject to scrutiny for months. Pai falsely claimed last year that the FCC’s public comment system had been the victim of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. In reality, according to an inspector general’s report, there were no such attacks, just a massive wave of comments, many due to a segment calling for public comments by HBO’s John Oliver.
Near the end of his statement justifying not releasing the comment data, Pai referred to a dissenting Democratic colleague on the commission, Jessica Rosenworcel, and noted “the fact that the half-million comments submitted from Russian e-mail addresses and the nearly eight million comments filed by e-mail addresses from e-mail domains associated with FakeMailGenerator.com supported her position on the issue!”
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fcc-chair-says-russian-email-addresses-submitted-public-net-neutrality-comments
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