The Grand Rapids Gerald Ford Tribute Reporters Should Visit
The President is coming to my town today.
Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. June Bug the Terrorist Foster Dog is out on sentry duty, so there’s no chance that Trump will stop by for a visit.
But the coincidence of the release of the Barr Memo spinning the Mueller report with Trump’s visit is leading to think pieces written by outsiders portraying activists on both sides of the Trump divide, as if Grand Rapids has suddenly become the measure of how the Mueller Report — once the actual report is released — will affect Flyover Country.
Predictably, the WaPo piece makes much of Gerald Ford’s ties to Grand Rapids as a way to suggest we’ll see a parallel moment of healing to one purportedly brought by Ford’s pardon of Nixon.
At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, a husband and wife, both flight attendants on a 24-hour layover in Grand Rapids, looked at black-and-white photos of that earlier era. Usually they only talk politics, they said, when they are traveling overseas and the people they meet bring it up. Almost always, people want to know what’s gone so wrong with the United States.
“You don’t want people to think of your country that way,” the husband said.
“There’s too much anger,” his wife replied. “We try to keep aloof from it all.”
In the background, the speech Ford delivered from the Oval Office on Sept. 8, 1974, pardoning Nixon, played on a loop, echoing through the empty rooms. Etched nearby on a wall was a line from Ford’s autobiography explaining the decision that would lead to his election defeat in 1976. “America needed recovery, not revenge,” Ford wrote. “The hate had to be drained and the healing begun.”
The passage makes an error. Ford’s Presidential Library is not in Grand Rapids. His papers — along with Dick Cheney’s earliest records of how to exploit a bureaucracy as Chief of Staff — are on the campus of University of Michigan, two hours from here. What the parachute-in journalists were visiting was the Ford Museum, which features an exhibit that (in my opinion) stretches to claim some kind of accomplishment from Ford’s half term.
The monument to Ford I find more salient, however, is a glass sign that has been put up outside our Federal Building, also named for Ford, since I moved to town less than a decade ago. The sign quotes just one line of the most famous passage in Ford’s speech on being sworn in. Not the “our long national nightmare is over.” But this line:
Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.
Even with Nixon’s pardon, Watergate was the last time that flunkies of the President did real time for actions that served the man and not the Constitution.
But Barr’s memo seems to eliminate all possibility that will happen again (if his Iran-Contra intervention didn’t already). That’s because he effectively permitted the President to float pardons to systematically obstruct an investigation, and then usurped Congress’ role in determining whether in doing so the President had violated his oath of office.
We don’t know what the will happen when the actual Mueller Report is released. We don’t even know what it says.
But if you want to take a lesson from Grand Rapids’ most famous resident, it’s that even Ford’s overly optimistic victory lap may no longer hold.
The mystery appellant case continues. We know Mueller has filed a report with Barr. Do we know he has quit? Could there be a second Mueller report?
Probably not. He has handed off all of his pending litigation to either SDNY or DDC. I think he is still there to make sure the handoff goes smoothly, and then will leave. Unfortunately, until he formally resigns, Congress will not be able to ask him to testify.
It is my hope that he does not testify before Barr’s next missive in weeks not months. In that way he can be asked about that as well.
Exactly
Do you really think that the report will ever see the light of day bmaz? I think pardons are gunna hit the ground in weeks not months but not the entire report. The next election may be over already.
Yes, I do. But have no idea how long that will take and exactly how much from it is withheld.
He has not quit, is still showing up for work at his office. But my guess that is just winding down. Doubt there is a second report. Maybe a letter addendum or something if necessary.
I do not know what to make of the mystery grand jury appellant issue. I was convinced by many smart prosecutors that Mueller would not submit his report of investigation for some time because he still had many hot irons in the investigative fire. A principal one was the information he sought from the foreign state owned corporation that was fighting the subpoena tooth and nail, principally on sovereign immunity grounds. I found it convincing that Mueller believed this information was core to his investigative mission. And then, on the literal eve of finally exhausting the appellant’s efforts to obtain Court intervention, he passes the baton. And, given the government’s continued efforts to keep the identity of the appellant concealed, it appears the DC USAO still believes it needs to protect its ongoing investigation from disclosure of the identity of this party. The only rationale I can see is that Mueller was ordered by Barr to wrap it up by a date certain, even if he could not yet obtain all he needed. Does anyone have another way of looking at it?
What “smart former prosecutors” do you talk to? Or are you just blithely seeing clacking head paid pundit stuff on TV?
Just because that part of the case has been tasked to an USAO most certainly does not mean it was not germane. This is a specious argument.
And:
Is beyond silly and specious. You understand that, because it is a grand jury matter that the government HAS TO maintain secrecy? You do understand that, right?? Because you obviously are a master of Rule 6(e) demanding the same, right? Apparently not, because you make the idiotic jump to some order to “wrap it up”.
Seriously, the more you talk, the shakier you look. Please endeavor to not make people here dumber with your comments.
Oh, for chrissakes, please knock off the nasty invective. I have no idea why you jump down my throat. You seem to have a pre-conceived notion I am some Trumpist troll set to cast doubt on the bona fides of the investigation. Maybe it is because I jumped into an earlier conversation and you knew the true motives of the others and assumed I was part of that cabal? if so, bad timing by me. I am only here because I have long been a reader of Marcy’s posts, saw alot of smart people on the board and finally decided to wade in to ask some questions in good faith. I am beginning to regret that decision.
I never said I am speaking with prosecutors. I said I was convinced by a couple of smart ones that Mueller was a ways from wrapping up. In particular, I was thinking about Anne Milgrim and Preet Bharara who said exactly that in their podcast. Since then, Bharara said he was wrong and surprised. I am trying to understand why he was wrong and surprised. I am particularly interested given the obvious importance Mueller’s team seemed to place on getting the mystery grand jury appellant’s information. I am expressly stating my belief that the information WAS germane and that is why I am puzzled why the case was passed off now.
If you don’t want to respond, fine. You are done with an idiot like me. Maybe someone else doesn’t mind giving me their thoughts.
What in the hell is wrong with you. Stop. Now. And quit polluting these threads with your repetitive facile bunk.
You’re a relative newbie here with 24 comments inside one month.
You struggle with concision – this last comment was 252 words long.
We’ve had numerous concern trolls who use filibustering to DDoS threads.
Ease up. Recognize this site is free, ad-free, the folks behind the scenes do this gratis, and we’re constantly under attack by bots and trolls. Now employ some focus. And for god’s sake be smart and quit poking bmaz the bear.
got it. Thanks
Ahhhhh. I’ve been wondering. HFA so hard time telling at times. Danke.
PJB, I agree with what you say. This certainly created a surprise to all of us.
The case in the Appellate Court is quite interesting. A few months ago, I read that it might be either a company much like Cambridge Analytica, or a bank. If I remember right it was owned by Russia, and could be traced to either Cyprus, Russia, or Las Vegas, I think. Please don’t hold me to the Vegas location. All I know.
Although, I wonder what the data was that Manafort gave to Kilimnick at the cigar shop on August 2, 2016. Could they have been peddling nanotech data and dreams work done on unknowing Americans.
This is absolutely batshit. Also, please do not use the handle of “Mary” here. That name is retired on these premises. Pick another one if you deign to ever return.
As someone disabled recentlyish and stuck at home most of the time and often wondering if I can contribute anything to society at large still, thank you for sharing that.
Though I don’t think I could ever live quite up to her standard, she sounds like the type with a large heart who would poopoo that. I do like to picture myself as smart and that is often the first compliment most people I know pay me though and damn it is driving me insane to watch my country fall apart while I’m stuck in this god forsaken place.
Vent over, feel free to delete remove if not appropriate and just send to bmaz. Anyway cheers to Mary.
Thoughts on maybe a place where here are links for people to get involved in causes? So many Americans have turned cynicism into helplessness and Gould try getting of their asses before those rights are gone entirely.
Or a link to such a place to blast around?
You are doing quite well. And we very much appreciate you in this forum. It is not always the easiest, and we are kind of protective of it, a lot of times on the fly, but your contribution here is good and very much welcomed.
Now that was a very lovely thing to read when I woke up this morning, thank you bmaz.
And this place is a treasure that should be guarded. I didn’t find this until recently. Man I wish I had known about fdl way back when I was in school and thought I was headed to law school to save the world. (NAL though, life happened😐🙂)
I really should have noticed Rayne already did that. There is also the ACLU and other orgs to donate to. I should go find a list of local democratic grassroots orgs. The progressive, or allied ones, should form a coalition or some such to pool some resources. I suppose dirty tricks could be an issue
Democritus, thank you. I hope you are feeling better quickly.
We live in tough times where the value of humans has been degraded so much. Basically for AI. They will regret some day for what they have done to all of us. Again, to a speedy recovery the best. Mary Lou
Nader and Barr spoke last night about talking to the judge to unseal the grand jury testimony.
For everything else NAL, and very much appreciate you guys sharing how the process actually works, as well as how it should.
Yes, there is absolutely a process to seek authorization from the chief judge of the court supervising the grand jury to release Rule 6 protected GJ material. But it is a process where there is briefing, and probably oral argument upon said briefing in a case of this magnitude. Barr (assuming he is really willing) and Congress ought to get on with the initial application….now.
Could it still be Qatar and Kushner?
My first worst day was when Trump was elected.
My second worst day was when Barr obstructed justice.
My third worst day is when we learn that Barr will override all the SDNY recommendations.
I’m sorry but our Government is a government of powerful people not laws.
BSL – Do we know how close Barr is to (Berman?) the USA for SDNY? Your change of tense is appropriate for now anyway. Isn’t the SDNY guy recused on the Mueller stuff and that’s why Khazumi was handling it? Now Audrey is taking over and she seems no non-sense. I bloody hope so.
All of this has made me re-engage. My congresscritter Adam Smith, Chair of HASC, is a pretty good man – a bit blowhardy, but that’s genetic for a pol. Working with him now.
Whoever ends up handling the financial investigations, let’s hope that they have no past associations with Deutsche Bank. I feel better about Manhattan or NYState handling the investigations. Hopefully that’ll take Barr out of the equation.
The demanding Adam Schiff resign thing is very very disturbing. Where was the outrage for Devin Nunes and his midnight ride?
They know that they damning details are in the counterintelligence investigation, and that Schiff might just release them. He needs to hold strong, he has done nothing wrong.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Brandi Buchman is live tweeting:
https://twitter.com/BBuchman_CNS/status/1111236117913919490
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Aaron Rupar has video of Schiff’s response in two tweets, here:
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1111259975714828289
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Thanks harpie for links. Schiff Strong!!!
No way Adam Schiff resigns, given the stakes and what he knows already. Kaiser Quisling is blowing smoke and proving just how weak he is.
What about Vlad and Venezuela, KQ, will you use all options?
Agreed. Schiff resign because the minority members of his committee claim he should, because he advocated for routine, indeed obligatory, oversight initiated by Republicans, staffed by Republicans, reported by Republicans? Not a chance in hell. Trump would resign before Schiff.
The GOP is blowing smoke. They know their man in the WH is a walking time buumb (h/t M. Clouseau). They don’t know what might make him go off. They do know he does so much so badly, and his genius is so patently unstable, that it could be anything any time. They’re just trying to survive him and use his Base to stay in office. Their conduct is Exhibit A for why they should neither remain in office nor in power.
We are so far into the banana republic territory we can’t even see the shore anymore. Also the media ban request? All to make people think twice before speaking out. Like his bikers for trump.
Also, the commenters here word play is top notch! And thanks for the link Jenny. Trying not to clutter the thread, sorry if I am.
Oh if you look at the bottom of CSPAN on Jenny’s link you can see user generated clips. Lots of people took some time to point out the GOP BS.
I bet statistically signigantly more than most clips.
I’ve done a transcript of Schiff’s response…quite long, so I don’t know if I should post it…and if so, where. ???
Do you have a Twitter account? if so, can you contact me there? @raynetoday
I don’t have a twitter account. I don’t use email very much, but could try that…or maybe post it at the end of one of the older comment sections…maybe in two comments? It’s 768 words.
Jenny supplied the transcript in a link, March 29, 2019 at 8:38 am below.
They won’t stiff Schiff. He’ll live to give ‘em the shiv (metaphorically, of course.)
FYI: Link to the entire hearing:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?459258-1/house-intelligence-committee-examines-russian-election-interference-tactics&live
First 15 minutes, riveting with Schiff and the GOP Nunes (CA), Conaway (TX) and Turner (OH).
Thanks, Jenny!
Thank you, Jenny!
Agree, thank you for the link Jenny!
Conway rushes through his condemnation of Schiff, hardly raises his eyes, and his hands are shaking, could just be a medical ting to be fair, when he flipped the sheets of paper.
If you look up hubris in the newer dictionaries it now says, see GOP.
Aaron Rupar has done one of his signature twitter/video threads of
Trump’s Grand Rapids rally:
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https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1111408229433507840
4:22 PM – 28 Mar 2019
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[quote] Trump is about to deliver a campaign speech in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Follow along for a video thread. / […] [end quote]
Harpie, the link TRANSCRIPT of Chairman Schiff’s opening statement:
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/under-partisan-fire-adam-schiff-presents-his-case-without-apology
Thank you, Jenny.
Benen says he’ll “quote the remarks at length”, but he does quote the WHOLE section, as far as I can tell.
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There’s only one difference to what I transcribed, and that is in this section:
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[quote] You might think it’s OK that that campaign chairman offered polling data, campaign polling data to someone linked to Russian Intelligence. I don’t think that’s OK. [end quote]
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…where he omitted the phrase “campaign polling data”, which is important.
His final statement is right on!:
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[quote] Each of the factual points the chairman raised are supported by evidence, and as best as I can tell, none of the factual assertions have been contested by Trump, any of his allies, or the contents of Attorney General Bill Barr’s memo. // In theory, this should represent the end of the Republican tantrum over Adam Schiff. [end quote]
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I did the paragraph breaks slighlty differently to emphasize Schiff’s points.
You are welcome. Visual and copy matching is harmony.
Excellent opening by Chairman Schiff.
the Republican nunes-collaborationists in the the house have joined trump and his White House gang in a calculated effort to verbally intimidate and silence those who have the power to reveal the extent of trump’s collusion with the Russians, just as they collaborated to intimidate the DOJ.
we are now in round two of save the corrupt presidency where getting rid of Schiff and shutting up house intelligence committee is the equivalent of firing comey.
but the White House and the Nunes collaborationists could never get around Republicans sessions and Rosenstein. you just never know who you can trust to help you conduct your cover-up, eh, mr. president-by-fraud.
A couple of OT items here:
1. What’s Kaiser Quisling going to do now that the Russians have called his bluff on Venezuela? According to the Palace, “all options” are on the table in a situation just perfect for Vlad to sow discord in the USA and the hemisphere.
2. Note that McTurtle’s stopping of the Barr report release is not really just to protect KQ, it’s also to protect the GOP leadership from their flagrant collaboration with the Russian agents.
3. Jill Stein is ‘cooperating’ but no word on what that might mean. It does remind everyone that many shoes remain to be dropped, and many of those shoes are in places the Palace cannot control. https://www.rawstory.com/2019/03/jill-stein-now-fully-cooperated-senates-russia-probe-pushing-back-document-requests/
4. Read through to the rewenzo comment, it parallels what Marcy had been saying all along. http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2019/03/rats-didnt-fuck
Not sure why my comment got intercepted.
1. Russia’s calling Kaiser Quisling’s bluff on Venezuela, so what will the Palace do now after saying “all options” were on the table? I don’t recall any discussion from Faux News hyping up the “all options” choice.
2. McTurtle’s in it up past his shell, so of course he will block release of the Mueller report.
3. Jill Stein is cooperating with Senate investigators but we don’t know about what; Raw Story has the details.
4. LG&M has a good article (look for rats) on the state of play, particularly in how impossible it would be for the D’s to have committed fraud.
Did RawStory do original reporting or parrot another outlet? A link would be nice, please and thanks.
It was in the intercepted post just above my re-post. I did find it interesting that Dr. Stein was so resistant to come clean about her 2016 efforts and all of a sudden now is cooperating with the Senate Intelligence Committee team. That detail might be important, since under GOP “leadership” it could be a catch-and-kill operation and Burr is smarter than Nunes is on how to bury the bones.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/03/jill-stein-now-fully-cooperated-senates-russia-probe-pushing-back-document-requests/
The RawStory piece is a regurgitation of the original reporting at https://www.thedailybeast.com/jill-stein-cooperated-with-congressional-russia-investigators
Depends on whose definition of “Cooperation” you are using I guess.
What an appropriate location to announce he is pardoning Flynn, Manafort, and Stone. Or whichever co-conspirators Barr mentioned when Mick Mulvaney asked him who Barr felt deserved “special recognition from the president.”
I am temporarily in Hudsonville b/c much of my family ended up here. You have changed my view of West Michigan just by being here. Thank you for that and for all the work you do!
Kind of related to the thread above on Schiff resigning, but not enough so I put it here. Tweeted with bmaz this AM re: the misdemeanors mention in Article II Section 4 https://constitutionallawreporter.com/article-02-04
Misdemeanors are “described” in 18 USC https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3559
Bmaz said that “high crimes and misdemeanors” (wrt to impeachment at least) are defined to be whatever Congress says they are.
My point being, once and if the Mueller report is available in as unreacted form as legally possible, it could be that felonies described do not meet the criminal defense bar or Mueller deferred to DOJ precedent about indicting a sitting POTUS. But might they meet “lower” bar of high crimes and misdemeanors?
Oh, absolutely. Now whether Congress does anything about that or not is the better question.
Also, note that Clinton was never charged with, much less convicted of, anything. But he got impeached.
Why would the bar need to be lowered when the body of “high crimes and misdemeanors” to date is massive? The amount of criminal and unethical behavior obliterates any previously acknowledged threshold. As I said earlier in the week,
Oh, I agree and don’t think it needs to be either. I have a clumsy way of saying that if the evidence does not support a DOJ criminal indictment or, more likely it might but DOJ guidance wrt indicting a sitting POTUS got in the way there is no reason not to damn the torpedoes full speed ahead – except for maybe politics. Stuff in the Mueller report that supports the known facts (per Walt Shaub) just might make the politics easier. But I agree…no reason to wait all other things being equal.
The bar needs to be lowered so it can more effectively clothesline Republican congresscreeps who are ignoring the Trump administration’s ginormous steaming heap of crime and corruption out of short-sighted, petty greed.
Couldn’t agree more.
His spastic mocking of a reporter during a rally is an impeachable offense, imo. And his myriad public abuses of power should be more than enough.
Mueller and obstruction are icing on an already monstrous impeachment cake.
Calling the media enemies of the country and advocating that they be attacked – and promising to pay legal expenses for the attackers, even if he never does or never actually intends to do so.
Sorry to see everyone so gloomy. The Mueller Report will out. We are already getting little leaks, like how long it is, more than 300 pages.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/us/politics/mueller-report-length.html
Ok. That is not all that important, although the title which is divulged also, reminds us once again that this is something important about American democracy, and not just about the flailing about of our criminally incompetent president.
The Barr letter is so bad, so full of evasions and sophistry, that it will not be able to stand. Its butchered definitions, “does not establish”, and its timid admissions of some of the truth “not exonerated”, on and on it goes, so offend the mind that the thinking public will not rest until it is exposed to the light of day.
Even the general public, which has little taste for such discourse recognizes, on both sides of the aisle, that this is just more of the same.
So be it. We must push on to get it released. Best course of action to guarantee that: November 2020 is coming. Be an active part of making something good come from it.
Related to the length, which NYT reported, Jeremy Herb has a new detail:
8:12 AM – 28 Mar 2019
https://twitter.com/jeremyherb/status/1111285037918552064
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[quote] One new detail adding to @npfandos @adamgoldmanNYT scoop on Mueller report being more than 300 pages: A source with knowledge says it’s between 300 and 400 pages, not counting exhibits, w/ @LauraAJarrett [end quote]
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…”NOT counting exhibits”
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Actually, Tony, the phrases you quoted re: “not establish” and “not exonerate” are Mueller’s wording from his official report; Barr was just quoting Mueller not using is own words. But I agree that Barr’s letter conceals more than it reveals. Just looking at it again now, I see on the first page that Barr refers to his “initial review” and “ongoing review” of Mueller’s report, which sounds as if he hadn’t fully read and digested the report before writing his four page letter. All the more important to get that report out pronto.
I think what is telling is that, despite Barr’s obvious desire to give Trump the benefit of the doubt in his four page letter, he still felt compelled to use those terms. My bet is that is the “best” spin he could put on it.
My thinking as well, similar to the limited rollouts Ghouliani and Sekulow do when trying to get ahead of some bad news.
After all, tomorrow is Friday, and we know what that usually means….
Yes, Tom–my point, poorly expressed was that Barr had to search for something to legitimize his god-awful screed and that was best he could do. bmaz sums it up pretty well at 1:30pm.
I think that with each passing day, Barr’s patch on the huge wound he inflicted on our national discourse will pull further and further loose, and the truth will inevitably flow out.
Might take some time, though.
Still wondering if Barr wrote that obsequious memo entirely on his own initiative or if the Republican establishment pushed him to do it to to stave off utter collapse. Russian money is all over the Republican Party.
Based on his work for Poppy Bush, Barr signed up for this knowing full well what was expected of him. He would not be there were he not committed to do it.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Every report that I have seen has an “Executive Summary”
Why didn’t he give us that?
BSL, great question, but I’m pretty sure we know why we didn’t get a copy of Mueller’s executive summary.
Hi Bay State Librul. Yes frustrating, also fascinating at the same time because there is much more to be revealed.
This morning, I felt much better watching Chairman Schiff in charge of the House Intelligence hearing. Plus the panel gave insight into Russian’s system.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?459258-1/house-intelligence-committee-examines-russian-election-interference-tactics&live
The good news is – we are questioning. When questioning we are questing. We are civically engaged which is vital to create change.
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
Dr. Seuss
Thanks,
It’s opening day so, with that,
if the 2020 election were held today, I would vote for Mayor Pete of South Bend, Indiana — Putting South Bend back on the map…….
Fun fact: I call South Bend my home town.
Hoosier daddy? (All in fun, no offense intended ;-)
Would be nice if they had a football team.
And it’s a beautiful day for it (here, anyway). I wanna play ball.
Adding: could you imagine if we could gather from near and far to have an EW tournament– of anything. That’d be fun. Lots of beer and apple pie.
Nevermind, we’d all die. Or maybe survive if given a year’s advance notice for olds-training camp.
Chalk it up to ~ The imagination flies on a sunny spring opening day…
Oh jeebus- case in point: just heard on the teevee that today was the first day that no one who played in the 20th century– “the 1900s”*– was on the field.
*”The 1900s” sounded to the ear like “the 1800s” used to sound. Oh, my.
ETA: on the (partial) topic of this post, Trump clearly lost his mind in GR. Sorry you get to hear your city defiled in clips until he next outdoes himself.
A few years ago I heard a young movie reviewer refer to a film as “a costume drama set in the 1960s.”
Yikes. ‘Period films’ from the late Elizabethan era (Taylor, that is…).
Marcy, thanks for sharing the pic of June Bug the Terrorist Foster Dog. Somehow, I think seeing that made my day better.
I pet sit for a fella who probably is not quite as tall as June Bug. But he lives with very, very dedicated Dems. And one of his human brothers-in-law is about 6’9”
I, as a retired librarian, of course have the 3 Catkateers: BBC, Blue, and Boo.
“Even with Nixon’s pardon, Watergate was the last time that flunkies of the President did real time for actions that served the man and not the Constitution.“
It is clear humans have issues. Men claim to serve a God and inflict trauma on children. A man claims to make America great again when nothing about his embraced behavior manifests anything great.
Lies
Discrimination
Manipulation
Ignorance
Nixon lied and got away with it. Trump is the causal reality of Iran/Contra and 911.
There is an historical thread here ripe with dysfunction and deceit.
A Corporate fascist as President, demanding loyalty with enemies list?
Truth hurts…
It’s curious to look back 45 years, and recall a competition that New York Magazine sponsored for the best four-line poem opening: “Pardon me, but aren’t you Gerry Ford?” To join with others voicing optimistic views, I also recall Rudy Giuliani’s prediction, despite of all his “No collusion!” and “Collusion is not a crime,” that the Mueller Report would be “politically devastating” for Trump.
Given Mueller’s decision to leave open the question of obstruction, that may be an accurate prediction — especially when the report itself becomes available.
God. who writes this shit. what editors allow it to be printed to be read:
“…At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, a husband and wife, both flight attendants on a 24-hour layover in Grand Rapids, looked at black-and-white photos of that earlier era. Usually they only talk politics, they said, when they are traveling … blah, blah, blah… ”
this is not reporting. this is set-up writing – in which the clumsy authors decide on the theme and mood they want to telegraph to their readers:
“… Almost always, people want to know what’s gone so wrong with the United States.
“You don’t want people to think of your country that way,” the husband said.
“There’s too much anger,” his wife replied. “We try to keep aloof from it all.”
In the background, the speech Ford delivered from the Oval Office on Sept. 8, 1974, pardoning Nixon, played on a loop, echoing through the empty rooms. Etched nearby on a wall was a line from Ford’s autobiography explaining the decision that would lead to his election defeat in 1976. “America needed recovery, not revenge,” Ford wrote. “The hate had to be drained and the healing begun.”
and in the background cellos playing a dirge.
gak. yuck.
here the mainstream media, who get so much wrong in American politics with their covert moralizing, have succeeded in using a poorly informed American couple to illustrate a misguided view of the contemporary United states, which will recursively reinforce that view in those two citizens themselves, as well as thousands of others who read the drivel.
Last night in GR was a pure fascist rally
This summer is going to be violent
Spring Lake, MI was home until 1983, then Kalamazoo College for 4 years, now in Oregon. All of our family is still in west MI, and my father is a head usher at Van Andel. He live texted me last night during the rally. Sick to his stomach though he laughingly mentioned that the sound was so bad on his side of the arena that people were walking out. He also sent pics of protestors outside the arena. The W years converted my parents from forever-voting-Republicans to the other side, but they mostly remain quiet about it as ostracism is very real in this neck of the woods where Republicans often run unopposed. My brother also struggles with being surrounded at work by Trumpists who are not impressed by facts like the ones Schiff listed yesterday. Even though my parents somehow found the light, when I think of entrenched believers whose minds can’t be changed this little corner of MI is a perfect example.
This is the part of Trump’s Grand Rapids rally, where he mocks asylum seekers:
[This is a c-span transcript]
https://www.c-span.org/video/?458863-1/president-trump-weighs-mueller-report-rally-grand-rapids-michigan&start=4049
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[quote] [1:07:29] […] Democrats want to pretend there is no border crisis. For one simple reason. Because they have caused the border crisis. And do you know what else, honestly because they want votes, and because they don’t want to give us a they put that ahead of what is good for our county. The mass illegal immigration across our border is a direct consequence of Democrats supported loopholes. Democrat promises of amnesty. You have people coming up. They are all met by the lawyers come and they say say the following phrase, I’m very afraid for my life. I am afraid for my life. OK. And then I look at the guy, he looks like he just got out of the ring. He’s a heavy weight champion of the world. It’s a big, fat con job, folks. It’s a big fat con job. And Democrats sanctuary cities and the refusal to protect American vote- – American borders. […] [end quote]
emptywheel Retweeted:
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Ben Collins 9:35 PM – 28 Mar 2019
https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1111487028980523008
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[quote] Write off the sheer prevalence of the Qanon cult at your own risk.
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I’ve been covering Qanon for a year, and the amount of pro-Q people in this video from yesterday’s Trump rally line in Grand Rapids is absolutely shocking. This is just a portion of it. [VIDEO]
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So many things in American society had to fail for this many people to believe one party is run by an actual Satanic cabal that eats children, and Trump, Jesus and Bob Mueller are secretly ending it.
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Social media companies helped it grow, but this is widespread systemic failure. [end quote]
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While we’re all waiting waiting waiting …. we need a distraction. Here’s a great story very embarrassing for Putin.
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/female-warlord-defects-to-ukraine-details-russias-involvement-in-donbas.html
The Russians made a soon-to-be-released movie about this woman and now she’s changed sides! Oops.