The Commentariat -- February 17, 2020

Afternoon Update:

Josh Gerstein of Politico: "The judge handling the criminal case that set off a white-hot, national political controversy last week -- the prosecution of ... Donald Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone -- has ordered both sides to take part in a telephone hearing Tuesday to discuss the status of the case. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued the unusual Sunday order after the entire four-person prosecution team withdrew from the case following Attorney General Bill Barr's intervention to rescind their recommendation of a seven-to-nine year sentence for Stone.... Defense attorneys for Stone also filed a second motion for a new trial last week, after Jackson rejected one such motion filed last year.... Stone is currently set to be sentenced Thursday morning in Washington on the seven felony counts that a jury convicted him on last November.... It's unclear whether the judge will decide to proceed with the sentencing as scheduled...."

Karen Scannell & Erica Orden of CNN: "Federal prosecutors are weighing new charges against associates of Rudy Giuliani in connection with a company that paid him $500,000, according to people familiar with the investigation. Prosecutors with the US attorney's office for the Southern District of New York are considering whether to charge Giuliani associate Lev Parnas and at least one of his business partners with misleading potential investors for Fraud Guarantee, the Florida-based company that paid Giuliani.... Parnas co-founded Fraud Guarantee with the idea of providing insurance to companies to protect against fraud. The scrutiny of Fraud Guarantee brings the investigation closer to Giuliani ... and raises questions about what role the former mayor played, if any, in the marketing of the company. A lawyer for Giuliani said his client never had any conversations about investor pitches or marketing with Parnas or his business partner David Correia."

Meredith McGraw of Politico: "... Donald Trump's reelection machine took full advantage of the millions of NASCAR eyeballs watching on race day by airing an ad on Fox and flying a bright red 'KEEP AMERICA GREAT!' banner near the track. Fox carried the event live on television, and Fox News commentator and Trump stalwart Judge Jeanine Pirro, Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle watched from a VIP section of the track. Trump's President's Day weekend in Florida demonstrated how Trump plans to approach his 2020 campaign -- showcasing the presidency to his MAGA base and raising money with high dollar donors across the country. Before heading to Daytona, Trump raised $10 million for his reelection and the Republican National Committee with a small private dinner of 40 of his wealthiest supporters." ~~~

~~~ David Edwards of the Raw Story: "The FOX broadcast network seemingly snubbed the president of the United States on Sunday when it cut to commercial while he was speaking. Viewers complained on Twitter that FOX Sports cut away prior to ... Donald Trump's campaign-style speech at the Daytona 500, where he was named grand marshal. FOX's cameras were also criticized for cutting away from Trump's lap at the Daytona 500 in his presidential limo. Instead, fans were treated to a commercial from Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg." One view complained that Fox network cut away because "Communists own the media."

AP & WJLA (Washington, D.C.): "Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's push to ban the sale of assault weapons failed on Monday after some of his fellow Democrats balked at the proposal. Senators voted to shelve the bill for the year and ask the state crime commission to study the issue, an outcome that drew cheers from a committee room packed with gun advocates. Four moderate Democrats joined Republicans in Monday's committee vote, rejecting legislation that would have prohibited the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms, including popular AR-15 style rifles, and banned the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds."

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Russia, Russia, Russia. Philip Rucker of the Washington Post: "Seven months after [Robert] Mueller's marathon testimony brought finality to the Russia investigation, Trump is actively seeking to rewrite the narrative that had been meticulously documented by federal law enforcement and intelligence officials, both for immediate political gain and for history. Turbocharged by his acquittal in the Senate's impeachment trial and confident that he has acquired the fealty of nearly every Republican in Congress, Trump is claiming vindication and exoneration not only over his conduct with Ukraine -- for which the House voted to impeach him -- but also from the other investigations that have dogged his presidency.... Last week alone, Trump called the Russia investigation 'tainted' 'dirty,' 'rotten,' 'illegal,' 'phony,' a 'disgrace,' a 'shakedown,' a 'scam,' 'a fixed hoax' and 'the biggest political crime in American History, by far.'" (Also linked yesterday.)

Daniel Chaitin of the Washington Examiner: "One of Robert Mueller's former top prosecutors said the outside prosecutor picked [by AG Bill Barr] to review the case against retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn is a ruse to investigate President Trump's perceived enemies. Andrew Weissmann, a former Justice Department official who was known as Mueller's 'pit bull' during the Russia investigation, said the Justice Department swapped out the 'loser case' of Andrew McCabe, who escaped criminal charges on Friday for allegedly lying to investigators about authorizing media disclosures, for a fresh one targeting top former FBI officials, including McCabe, led by Jeffrey Jensen, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. 'All they did was swapped out a loser case for starting an investigation that is going to be of Comey, McCabe, Pete Strzok,' Weissmann told MSNBC host Chuck Todd.... [Weissmann] said Jensen's appointment was 'interesting' considering that the judge presiding over the Flynn case rejected claims that Flynn was set up by the FBI after seeing the facts about the underlying investigation."

Scott Pelley of CBS News reprises how Trump's fake Crowdstrike conspiracy theory evolved, with help from Vladimir Putin. A "60 Minutes" segment is embedded in the article; Mrs McC: I can't get the video to start.

Get Out! Justin Wise of the Hill: "More than 1,100 former Justice Department (DOJ) officials are calling for Attorney General William Barr to resign in the wake of the DOJ's decision to ask for a shorter prison sentence for Roger Stone.... 'Barr's actions in doing the President's personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words,' the group of ex-officials wrote in a letter shared on Sunday by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit advocacy group. 'Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice's reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign.'" (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

Nothing could be more destructive of our system of government, of the rule of law, or Department of Justice as an institution, than any toleration of political interference with the enforcement of the law. -- William Barr, 1991 and 2019 confirmation hearings

~~~ Joyce Vance, in a Time opinion piece: "The President has plainly stated that he does not believe DOJ's criminal work should be free from improper political interference.... So if Barr in fact disagrees with Trump's claim that a President can intervene in criminal prosecutions, including and especially those of his own close friends and associates, he must say so. Silence in the face of so egregious a claim signals agreement.... If Barr truly believes in the rule of law, this is his moment. He can resign to show the country the President is not above the law, but in the more than 48 hours since Trump's tweet [asserting his right to interfere in criminal cases], we've heard nothing from Barr."

OMG! We take time out from our regularly-featured political news & commentary to bring you disturbing news from the society page: ~~~

~~~ New York Times: "Katie Rose Waldman and Stephen Miller, who both work in the Trump White House, were married Feb. 16 at Trump International Hotel in Washington. Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, who is a senior adviser to David Friedman, the United States ambassador to Israel, officiated. Mrs. Miller, 28, is a special assistant to President Trump and the press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence. From November 2017 to February 2019, she served as a spokeswoman for the United States Department of Homeland Security during the tenure of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Mr. Miller 34, is a senior White House adviser, which includes serving as Mr. Trump's top immigration adviser, directly shaping policies that aim to restrict the number of immigrants coming to the country." ~~~

     ~~~ Rishika Dugyala of Politico: "... Donald Trump attended the wedding.... Waldman was also the spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, where she defended the administration's family separations policy and made some controversial comments about immigrants." ~~~

     ~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: "Controversial comments"? New York Times (Jan. 3, 2019): "Early Tuesday, American border officers sent tear gas, pepper spray and smoke into Mexico when a group of about 150 migrants tried to cross a border barrier.... In an interview, Fernando Duarte, a 22-year-old Honduran, said the tear gas had affected small children, among others. 'That's when people got furious and started throwing rocks, and I joined them,' he said. 'I was so mad they were throwing that gas when they know there were children with us.'... The Associated Press reported that women, children and journalists were affected by the tear gas, and that its journalists saw rocks thrown only after the tear gas was launched." AP (Jan 1, 2019): "'Once again we have had a violent mob of migrants attempt to enter the United States illegally by attacking our agents with projectiles,' said Katie Waldman, a Homeland Security spokeswoman.... Ms. Waldman said the migrants appeared to be trying to stage a photo-op of their actions in front of 'conveniently invited media.'"

Tom Cotton Pushes Chinese Conspiracy Theory. David Edwards of RawStory: "Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) suggested on Sunday the coronavirus, which has killed over 1,000 Chinese citizens, is a biological weapon developed by the Chinese military.... Cotton admitted that he has no evidence that the disease originated [in a] laboratory.... 'We have such laboratories ourselves in the United States, run by our military,' Cotton explained. 'The burden of proof is on the Chinese Communist Party... we do want to err on the side of caution.'" --s (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Cotton has been pushing this "lab-produced" coronavirus conspiracy theory for a couple of weeks, including during a Senate committee hearing. I hope the committee is looking into how Hunter Biden is behind the coronavirus pandemic plot. Cotton has two degrees from Harvard. I wonder if the Harvard poobahs are figuring out that wrapping wingers in sheepskins is hurting the university's reputation as a serious educational institution. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Paulina Firozi of the Washington Post: "... Cotton acknowledged there is no evidence that the disease originated at the lab. Instead, he suggested it's necessary to ask Chinese authorities about the possibility, fanning the embers of a conspiracy theory that has been repeatedly debunked by experts.... Numerous experts dismissed the possibility the coronavirus may be man-made." Firozi cites other instances in which Cotton cited the conspiracy theory & demanded the "communists" disprove it -- even though the theory has effectively been disproved.

Presidential Race

The Houston Chronicle Editors endorse Amy Klobuchar for the Democratic presidential nomination. They cite her exchange with nasty-boy Brett Kavanaugh: "There in that exchange, we see some of what plagues American political discourse and one thing that can save it: a strong leader who can outwit anger, rise above contempt and exercise the good sense to walk us back from the edge rather than push us closer to it.... Above all, Klobuchar has the secret sauce many Democrats prize most: electability. A candidate whose presidential election would make history, her crossover appeal in and of itself packs a powerful punch. Democrats need someone who can stare down a bully while keeping an eye out for the little guy, someone who can grow the ranks, not divide them. Klobuchar is the woman for the job."

Mrs. McCrabbie: I can't access the Dallas Morning News page, but the paper's editors are declining to endorse any presidential candidate in 2020. They say they're endorsing "policy ideas" instead.

Evan Semones of Politico: "... Joe Biden suggested on Sunday that winning South Carolina's primary is of the utmost importance for continuing his beleaguered campaign. Biden was asked by NBC's Chuck Todd on' Meet the Press' whether South Carolina is the former vice president's last chance to make up ground in the 2020 presidential race after he suffered lopsided losses in Iowa and New Hampshire. 'Well, I think I have to do really well in it, but right,' Biden said. Biden added that then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton endured a string of primary losses in 1992 before picking up his first win, saying that upcoming delegate-rich states with demographics that are favorable to him will help make him the frontrunner before the end of March. Clinton lost in Iowa, New Hampshire Maine and South Dakota before securing his first win in Georgia."

David Leonhardt of the New York Times: "Every Democrat to be elected president in the past half century -- Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter -- started as a long shot, as did a couple of Republicans (Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan).... [In this race,] The problem wasn't Biden. It was the way other Democrats overreacted to him."

Got Milk? Shant Shahrigian of the New York Daily News: In Carson City, Nevada, Sen. Bernie Sanders "had just finished introducing his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders as 'the next First Lady' when a woman walked up to the mic and started rambling about subsidies for the dairy industry, video posted to social media showed.... Two topless kindred spirits hopped onstage to join her. They poured milk on themselves and preened around the podium for just a few moments before security took the protesters away.... The presidential candidate seemed to take the interruption in stride, quipping, 'This is Nevada, there's always a little bit of excitement at no extra cost.' [New York City Mayor Bill] de Blasio, who had introduced Sanders minutes earlier..., was seen on video averting his gaze from the stage and walking away as the scene unfolded."

Devan Cole of CNN: "... Pete Buttigieg responded Sunday to Rush Limbaugh's recent homophobic remarks, saying he doesn't take 'lectures on family values' from the conservative radio host...." Mrs. McC: Limbaugh has been married four times and divorced three times. (Also linked yesterday.)

Mrs. McCrabbie: Mike Bloomberg has a remarkable record of saying stupid stuff. Here are a few to add to the list: ~~~

     ~~~ Andrew Kaczynski & Em Steck of CNN: "Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg said the final Obamacare bill would do 'absolutely nothing to fix the big health care problems' and also called the program 'a disgrace' in comments made in 2010, just months after the law's passage. Speaking at Dartmouth College in July of that year, Bloomberg added that law was just 'another program that's going to cost a lot more money.'It is just one of several comments from Bloomberg identified by CNN's KFile criticizing the landmark Affordable Care Act in the years following its passage, including saying the bill was 'really dysfunctional' and did nothing to solve rising health care costs. Now, a decade later, as he hopes to become the Democratic presidential nominee, Bloomberg has fully embraced the Affordable Care Act, even proposing an additional 'Medicare-like public option' that builds on the law." ~~~

     ~~~ Natasha Korecki of Politico: "In his final year as New York mayor, Bloomberg compared two groups core to the Democratic base -- a local faction of the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York City teachers union -- to the NRA. 'We don't need extremists on the left or the right running our police department, whether it's the NRA or the NYCLU,' the then-mayor Bloomberg said of the New York Civil Liberties Union, in a 2013 speech in which he defended the city's controversial stop-and-frisk policy." ~~~

     ~~~ In case you missed it over the weekend, here's an edifying Washington Post story by Michael Kranish on Bloomberg's sexist remarks & actions, also linked Sunday & late Saturday. ~~~

~~~ Charles Blow of the New York Times: "It is truly a devastating sight to watch liberals who have winced for years at Donald Trump's issues on wealth, race and women allow fear, propaganda and influence mercenaries to push them into supporting a man who has his own issues concerning wealth, women and race.... It's not as if Democrats don't have viable candidates to choose from, none of whom even come close to the scale of Bloomberg's transgressions.... Many voters have bought into the hopeful, cheerful Bloomberg shown in his barrage of ads.... He has done some admirable work as a private citizen. A private citizen is what he should remain." ~~~

~~~ Evan Semones of Politico: "White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Sunday slammed sexist remarks Michael Bloomberg reportedly made to women who worked for him, saying they are 'far worse' than what ... Donald Trump said on the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tapes." Mrs. McC: For more on the Conway family's opinion of Donald Trump, see what George has to say in the op-ed linked yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.)

A Florida Man Opens Daytona 500. Michelle Martinelli of USA Today: "... Donald Trump participated in the ceremonial pre-race events at Sunday's Daytona 500, the biggest NASCAR race of the year.... The President was greeted with loud cheers during a pre-race speech.... Trump then served as the race's grand marshal -- only the fourth sitting president to do so for a race at Daytona International Speedway -- giving what's commonly described as the most famous words in motor sports: 'Gentlemen, start your engines.' In recent years, the command traditionally has started with the gender-neutral address 'Drivers,' but there were no women competing in the Daytona 500 this year. After fulfilling this grand marshal duties, the motorcade drove down pit road and around the iconic 2.5-mile race track, with the 40-car field and the pace car behind it, which was a first for a sitting president." ~~~

~~~ Daniel Dale of CNN: "... Donald Trump's campaign manager deleted a tweet featuring a dramatic photo of Air Force One at the Daytona 500 after users pointed out that the shot was from President George W. Bush's visit to the NASCAR race in 2004, not from Trump's visit on Sunday. Brad Parscale tweeted the 2004 photo, which shows Air Force One rising above packed stands at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and wrote, '.@realDonaldTrump won the #Daytona500 before the race even started.'" Mrs. McC: Yeah, 16 years before the race event started.

News Lede

The New York Times' live updates of developments in the coronavirus epidemic are here.

Comments

[Forrest Morris]

Happy Presidents' Day to the current living presidents: Barack Obama,
Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Did I leave anyone out?

[Jeanne]

Forrest, you are a sly dog... casting shade in a cute way...

[Bobby Lee]

Forest, you covered all living presidents. Thanks for omitting the pretender, who will always carry an asterisk by his name.

My municipality has never honored Presidents Day. Finally I have a reason to agree with them.

[PD Pepe]

Since it's President's Day I am going to link a piece from the New Yorker by that clever intellectual bonhomie Adam Copnick :

"Did Lincoln Really Matter? What the Civil War tells us about who has the power to shape history."
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/10/did-lincoln-really-matter

I found this piece most thought provoking and in this day of terror and indecision, our pick for whom can trump the bastard is crucial for us as Democrats––for what we stand for.

"A good government does need a head to see the way forward. It also needs a heart to make it feel, and, a a spine to keep it upright."

[Jeanne]

Judging by the comments you quoted, I think maybe White Supremacist plastic spork Miller has married his dream girl. While the disgust fills the air at the very thought of someone marrying this piece of...work..., it seems he has enchanted someone he is lucky to have met. Unless he created his own monster, of course...

Bleaching of eyeballs to follow delightful photo on Huffpost of him and Reince (errrrrance--)and their wives.

[Forrest Morris]

To cheer you guys up, here's a joke I told at my birthday party
Saturday to see if anyone would be offended. Thankfully no one was.

A racist, a liar and a womanizer walk into a restaurant. The maitre d
says 'right this way Mr. president*'

[unwashed]

@ Forrest, good one, but I think he would have gone with a much larger party.

[Marie Burns]

@Forrest Morris: And many happy returns.

[Akhilleus]

Presidents Day, eh? Wish we had one.

[Hattie]

Thank you, Forrest Morris, for the 2-part humor on this Presidents Day, celebrated in my ‘hood for extra-peacefulness due to closings.)

also

Birthday Greetings & Many Happy Returns of the Day!

[Hattie]

My prayer for Stephen and his Katie:

May you neither procreate nor prosper.

[Marie Burns]

@Hattie: Amen, Sister. P.S. The Presidents Day mattress sales were called off in my town as not even dedicated bargain shoppers and MAGA-maniacs were going for the pee-stained style the shops thought would be winners.

[Hattie]

@Mrs. B.McC -

<< The Presidents Day mattress sales were called off in my town as not even dedicated bargain shoppers and MAGA-maniacs were going for the pee-stained style the shops thought would be winners. >>

Hilarious, with thanks for the much-needed giggles.
(These drumpfy-times weaken the efficacy of my meds.)