Sunday
Feb022020
The Commentariat -- February 3, 2020
Afternoon Update:
Alexander Bolton of the Hill: "Centrist Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) on Monday urged the Senate to censure President Trump for holding up military aid to Ukraine in order to spur an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, predicting a formal reprimand could pick up bipartisan support. 'I do believe a bipartisan majority of this body would vote to censure President Trump for his actions in this matter. Censure would allow this body to unite across party lines, and as an equal branch of government to formally denounce the president's actions and hold him accountable,' Manchin said in a speech on the Senate floor. Manchin's proposal has received little traction among Senate Republicans who control the schedule, but it could gain the support of a handful of Republicans who have expressed concern over Trump's actions, including Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Manchin warned that if the Senate failed to respond in a bipartisan way to Trump's attempt to solicit foreign influence in the 2020 election, it would represent a serious setback for the chamber."
~~~ The New York Times' live updates of the Senate impeachment proceedings are here.
~~~ Nicholas Fandos: "The key to the House's abuse of power charge against President Trump has always been whether he conditioned official acts ... on investigations into his political rivals. As they closed their defense on Monday, Mr. Trump's team insisted again that he did not -- but the denial was narrowly tailored in light of new disclosures.... [For instance, Michael] Purpura ... said that 'none of the House witnesses ever testified that there was any linkage between security assistance and investigations.'... That is strictly true. But John R. Bolton ... has written in a manuscript that Mr. Trump told him directly that he would only release the assistance on help with the investigations. He has also offered to testify, but senators refused to call him...."
The Guardian's liveblog is here. ~~~
Jonathan Chait explains why some Trumpbots -- like Steve Steve Doocy & Matt Schlapp -- are defending Trump's misplacing the KC Chiefs in the wrong Kansas City. "The stupidity is the point...." So Adam Steinbaugh's Sharpie "correction" to the Kansas state map below? Better go with it.
~~~~~~~~~~
John Wagner of the Washington Post: "The Senate is poised to hear up to four hours of closing arguments Monday in the impeachment trial of President Trump.... The Senate is set to hear closing arguments Monday from House impeachment managers and Trump's lawyers starting at 11 a.m. Both sides will have up to two hours to make their case, under a resolution adopted along party lines on Friday after the Republican-led Senate voted against hearing from former national security adviser John Bolton and other witnesses in the historic impeachment trial." Emphasis added.
Presidential Race
Here's the New York Times' liveblog of mostly old white people running & voting for POTUS. The caucuses begin at 8 pm ET. Mrs. McC: I personally am going to spend the time watching an episode of "Vera."
Jason Clayworth of the Des Moines Register: "Iowa's backlog of hundreds of felon voter restoration applications has been processed ahead of Monday's presidential caucuses, a spokesman for Gov. Kim Reynolds [R] said Friday. Voter advocates last month had voiced concern about the backlog of more than 300 applications, some saying that denying the vote to the applicants could damage the reputation of the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses. Reynolds, in turn, vowed to process the applications ahead of Monday, Caucus Day. League of Women Voters of Iowa President Terese Grant said Friday she is happy with Reynolds' progress."
Allan Smith of NBC News: "... Donald Trump and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg traded barbs on Sunday hours before their dueling ads were set to compete during the Super Bowl.... '... You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on. OK. It's OK. There's nothing wrong. You can be short. Why should he get a box to stand on. He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled? Does that mean everyone else gets a box?, [Trump said to Sean Hannity in a pre-Super Bowl interview.]... Bloomberg's campaign said there was no truth to Trump's remarks. 'The president is lying,' Bloomberg campaign spokesperson Julie Wood said in a statement. 'He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan.' The former mayor echoed his spokesperson's remarks, saying that Trump 'lies about everything so you shouldn't be surprised that he said things like that.'"
A Fucking Distraction. Natasha Korecki of Politico: "John Kerry is supposed to be stumping for Joe Biden. But the former Secretary of State caused a kerfuffle Sunday after NBC News published a story detailing a phone call Kerry had in a hotel lobby here. Kerry was overheard by an NBC analyst apparently strategizing how he could enter the presidential race now that there was 'the possibility of Bernie Sanders taking down the Democratic Party -- down whole.' In the conversation, which took place in the Renaissance Savery hotel downtown, Kerry reportedly said, 'maybe I'm f[uck]ing deluding myself here,' then went on to explain the steps he would have to take if he jumped into the fray, including hitting up wealthy donors who might be frightened by Sanders' rise. Kerry ... emphatically denied he had renewed White House aspirations, tweeting 'any report otherwise is f[uck]ing (or categorically) false.' He later deleted the tweet with the expletive and re-posted a full statement adamantly denying he had any interest in running and that he was fully behind Biden's candidacy.?
The Oscar for Sunday's Worst Impeachment Commentary by a Republican Goes to ... Joni Ernst. Summer Concepcion of TPM: "On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) entertained the idea of impeaching Joe Biden if he were to win the presidency.... Ernst's latest remarks come on the heels of her controversial comment last week when she wondered aloud to reporters whether the Trump legal team's Biden-focused arguments in the Senate impeachment trial would influence Democratic Iowa caucus-goers. In her interview with Bloomberg News Sunday, Ernst suggested that if elected, Biden would run the risk of being impeached by Republicans because 'this door of impeachable whatever has been opened.'.... Ernst also told Bloomberg News that Biden would be impeached 'for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year,' stoking the debunked claim by former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin that his investigation into Burisma led to his ouster...." ~~~
~~~ First Runner-up: Lindsey Graham. Felicia Sonmez & Rachel Bade of the Washington Post: "Senate Republicans on Sunday acknowledged President Trump was wrong to pressure Ukraine for his own political benefit, even as they defended their decision to prohibit new evidence in his impeachment trial while pressing ahead with the president's all-but-certain acquittal. The remarks from key Republicans ... came after the Trump administration revealed the existence of emails that could shed light on the president's reasons for withholding military aid to Ukraine.... [Lindsey Graham] suggested a sweeping GOP counterattack following Wednesday's vote to acquit the president.... Graham outlined a plan that would include an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden, who is running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and a pursuit of the whistleblower whose account triggered the probe into Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine." ~~~
~~~ Zack Budryk of the Hill: "Alan Dershowitz, a member of President Trump's defense team in his Senate impeachment trial, said Sunday that the president tying military aid to Ukraine to investigations of his rivals would be 'troubling if it were proved' but that 'troubling is not the criteria for impeachment.' 'On Election Day, as a citizen, I will allow that to enter into my decision,' Dershowitz said when asked by Fox News's Chris Wallace if he would find the alleged quid pro quo at the center of the impeachment fight 'troubling.'... Dershowitz responded, 'Of course any citizen would find that troubling if it were proved.... If a president linked aid to an ally to personal benefit that was not in the public interest, that would be wrong,' he added. 'That would be a reason for him not to vote for him.'" Mrs. McC Translation: I only say this stuff to get on national teevee. Vote for the anti-Trump.
~~~ Hahahahahaha. Zack Budryk: "Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said on Sunday he believes that despite his certain acquittal this week, President Trump's impeachment will dissuade him from conduct of the kind that led to the impeachment proceedings.... 'If a call like this gets you an impeachment, I would think he would think twice before he did it again,' Alexander added, referencing a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky...." Mrs. McC: That's a lot like how the Mueller investigation made Trump think twice when he called Zelensky the day after Mueller wrapped up his report by testifying before Congress. Is Alexander stupid or does he think we are? ~~~
~~~ Update. Mrs. McCrabbie: Apparently the incredible "Trump learned his lesson" is now the GOP party line. Joni Ernst repeated it on CNN.
Matt Ford of the New Republic on how Senate Republicans have embraced Trumpian nihilism. "Republican lawmakers, blanching at the prospect of removing the president from power, remove themselves instead.... What set [Lisa] Murkowski's [R-Alaska] statement apart is that she said her 'no' vote on witnesses wasn't because they weren't necessary for the proceedings or wouldn't be relevant to the case, but because their testimony wouldn't matter. 'I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate,' Murkowski said. 'I don't believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.' It's hard to dispute that statement. But her assertion nonetheless reminds me of a GPS-navigation company's ad in 2010 that told commuters, 'You are not stuck in traffic. You are traffic.' It's one thing to complain that there won't be a fair trial in the Senate. It's another thing to vote in favor of ensuring that there won't be a fair trial in the Senate. But it's really something to do both."
** David Leonardt of the New York Times: "It wasn't the most notorious part of the 'Access Hollywood' tape, but it was the most revealing: 'And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.'... In the more than three years since the tape emerged, it's become clear that the you-can-do-anything line ... was describing his attitude toward everything: If you're rich, famous or powerful, you can get away with much more than most people understand. You just do it. You don';t need to worry about ethical niceties or even, sometimes, the law. You use your advantages to bulldoze any obstacles. For anyone trying to make sense of the impeachment trial, this attitude is central.... And although the United States is not an autocracy, our country is taking steps in that direction that I never imagined we would."
The great thing about the You-Ess-Ay is that you can be dumb as dirt and still get elected to the highest public office. ~~~
Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated: "... Donald Trump took to Twitter after the Kansas City Chiefs' 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV to congratulate the team and the 'Great State of Kansas.' But the Chiefs play in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. 'Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game, and a fantastic comeback, under immense pressure. You represented the Great State of Kansas and, in fact, the entire USA, so very well. Our Country is PROUD OF YOU!' Trump wrote. Trump apparently realized his mistake, as he deleted the tweet a few minutes later." Mrs. McC: I doubt it was Trump who realized the mistake. As Matt Stieb of New York conjectures, the mistake "could only have been a harrowing experience for the aide that had to inform the president of yet another basic failure of geography." ~~~
— Adam Steinbaugh (@adamsteinbaugh) February 3, 2020
Jonathan Swan of Axios: "President Trump often says he's the smartest person in the room on virtually every topic. Now, after taking several risks on what he privately calls 'big shit' and avoiding catastrophe, Trump and his entire inner circle convey supreme self-confidence, bordering on a sense of invincibility.... Three years into Trump's presidency, their view is the naysayers are always wrong.... Every day, Trump grows more confident in his gut and less deterrable. Over the last month, 10 senior administration officials have described this sentiment to me. Most of them share it.... Trumpworld's sense of being unbeatable has only grown. This is partly because the president sometimes defines victory in narrow terms, like pleasing the base and juicing the markets."
S.V. Date of the Huffington Post: "Taxpayers shelled out another $3.4 million to send ... Donald Trump to Florida this weekend so he could host a Super Bowl party for paying guests at his for-profit golf course. The president's official schedule shows him spending two and a half hours Sunday evening at a 'Super Bowl LIV watch party' at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Tickets sold for $75 each, but were only available to members of the club -- the initiation fee for which reportedly runs about $450,000, with annual dues costing several thousands of dollars more."
Rachel Wolf of the Jerusalem Post: "European Union High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said that ... Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal, 'challenges many of the internationally agreed parameters: the 1967 border, as agreed by both parties, with a state of Israel and an independent, viable State of Palestine, living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition.'... On Sunday, the EU released Borrell's remarks following his meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Speaking in Jordan, Borrell noted the country's 'very special role' in the peace process, 'in particular as regards Jerusalem and as custodian of the Holy Sites.' He affirmed that the EU shares this position and is committed to 'two-state solution and respect for international law.'"
Beyond the Beltway
The great thing about the You-Ess-Ay is that you can be dumb as dirt and still get elected to public office. ~~~
~~~ Montana. Holly Michels of the Billings Gazette: State Rep. Rodney Garcia, "a Billings Republican legislator, said Saturday he believes the U.S. Constitution calls for the shooting or jailing of those who identify as socialists.... [A]fter a speech [at a GOP election kickoff gathering] by former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who was Montana's representative in the U.S. House for two years, Garcia said he was concerned about socialists 'entering our government' and socialists 'everywhere' in Billings, before saying the Constitution says to either shoot socialists or put them in jail.... On Saturday, a reporter asked Garcia to clarify his remarks. 'So actually in the Constitution of the United States (if) they are found guilty of being a socialist member you either go to prison or are shot,' Garcia said. Garcia could not to point to where in the Constitution it says socialists could be shot or jailed.... 'I agree with my Constitution,' Garcia said. 'That's what makes us free. We're not a democracy, we're a Republic Constitution.'... The Montana Republican Party later condemned Garcia's remarks."
News Lede. The New York Times is live-updating developments & effects of the coronavirus crisis.
Share Article
Comments for this entry have been disabled. Additional comments may not be added to this entry at this time.
Reader Comments (11)
I think if I lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I might be glad when the Packers did well, because other than its pro football team, Green Bay's only claim to fame is being "the Toilet Paper Capital of the World." The football team probably brings revenue to the town. That said, I can't imagine why anyone other than a cheesehead would give a flying fuck about who won a professional sports game.
Leonardt's mention of Trump's "When you're a star they let you do anything"––this line says David, reveals his attitude toward everything. Again, early on we had the goods on this guy but like an ill wind he just kept sweeping in and taking over. Here's another example of the Star doing anything he wanted:
From July 6–-20016 (P's files)
Learning that a Watchdog group is filing an FEC complaint over Trump's emails asking for donations to foreign officials–-six countries so far––which is against federal law, my tongue is hanging out. We can only come to these conclusions:
1) Trump and his "people" were not aware of the law
2) they were aware but don't give a shit
3) If two, then they think they are above any law or/ and they are not serious about the presidency.
As far as Kansas goes even Toto knew where the heck he was. I think a lot of people probably confuse Kansas City, Mo. with the state of Kansas especially those dumb as dirt and still get elected .
And, Marie––I lived in GreenBay for about a year––the Packers were like gods. I got to meet a few of them; couldn't for the life of me detect anything godlike, but then G.B. doesn't have a heck of a lot going for it–––good cheese though.
@Bea, I will be more extreme and add "collegiate" sports as well. I grew up in WI during the Lombardi Packer period. I couldn't care less whether they won or lost.
I remember how bad the GB/Neenah/Menasha area stunk because of the paper mills. I never knew that GB was the TP capital, but am glad to learn that one of the paper companies there "offered the first splinter-free toilet paper in the early 1930s." How life must have been before then.
The interesting thing about the Packers though is that they are a team owned by public shareholders, not billionaires. Even my 90-yo mother has one share.
Sadly, sports fanaticism is lot limited to GB. It's everywhere. Game day in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is an experience of fantasy. I never want to hear "Roll Tide" or "Sweet Home Alabama" again.
All those advertising dollars spent on the hype don't earn a single penny from me.
unwashed used the word "fantasy" which takes me to something Hedges wrote today:
AMERICA: LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE:
"If what happens in courtrooms across the country to poor people of color is justice, what is happening in the Senate is a trial. If the blood-drenched debacles and endless quagmires in the Middle East are victories in the war on terror, our military is the greatest on earth. If the wholesale government surveillance of the public, the revoking of due process and having the world’s largest prison population are liberty, we are the land of the free. If the president, an inept, vulgar and corrupt con artist, is the leader of the free world, we are a beacon for democracy and our enemies hate us for our values. If Jesus came to make us rich, bless the annihilation of Muslims by our war machine and condemn homosexuality and abortion, we are a Christian nation. If formalizing an apartheid state in Israel is a peace plan, we are an honest international mediator. If a meritocracy means that three American men have more wealth than the bottom 50% of the U.S. population, we are the land of opportunity. If the torture of kidnapped victims in black sites and the ripping of children from their parents’ arms and their detention in fetid, overcrowded warehouses, along with the gunning down of unarmed citizens by militarized police in the streets of our urban communities, are the rule of law, we are an exemplar of human rights."
As we soldier on~~~~~~~~~~~~
@PD Pepe: Great quote from Hedges. Not to make light of our dire situation, but I think we can all agree with @unwashed: that splinterless TP is a pretty great invention.
With Trump's trial about his election meddling about to wrap up I would like to see the Democratic candidates to get the message out to everyone that if they are elected and find foreign interference in our elections again there will be real consequences. Remind the other powers that if Trump loses that they will once again have to deal with a real President. One who is knowledgable, competent, and not for sale.
I couldn't fucking believe it. I watched today's proceedings on C-span. At the end of Schiff's resounding wrap up, in fact in middle of his very last sentence, the screen suddenly asked, "RESUME PLAYBACK". By the time I did he was already back in his seat. Is there such a term as politicus interruptus?
@unwashed: PBS cut off the beginning of Schiff's speech, but they captured the end. It was, again, a speech for the ages. You can hear all but the beginning in the embedded video above. I'll try to get a complete video later, if one becomes available.
Update: A C-SPAN video just came up, & it includes the last word.
Sooo... Rush Limbaugh just announced he has advanced lung cancer, naturally after bragging about being a smoker for years. Adiós mofo.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/i-would-like-a-medal-for-smoking-old-radio-shows-haunt-rush-limbaugh-after-he-reveals-advanced-lung-cancer/
Not much time today, so will have to catch Schiff later, but here's some news too delicious not to share:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/2/3/1916145/-Climate-activist-Greta-Thunberg-nominated-for-the-Nobel-Peace-Prize?
Since we're wishing a rain of locucts on our enemies, may it induce apoplexy in the Pretender.
RAS,
It doesn't matter if a non-traitor (ie, a Democrat) wins the White House. Foreign powers who wish to ratfuck America will simply bypass the president and go straight to the America haters in the House and Senate. For half a buck, and the pleasure of screwing any Democrat who still believes in the rule of law and the Constitution, McTurtle will happily help that foreign power whipsaw any Democratic initiatives that seek to curtail illegal interference in American elections or policy decisions that don't short circuit confederate designs.
Unless Democrats are able to take the Senate back from the crooks, the schemers, the traitor mollycoddlers, and the haters, the country will still be for sale. Republicans hung that sign out years ago and it's still up. Trump and McConnell have now gotten taxpayers to buy them klieg lights for better illumination.