1/3/22 Jan 6 Everyday

 

We are in the midst of very dangerous times.

In 1966 Stephen Stills, (later of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young fame), was with a band called Buffalo Springfield and he wrote a song titled ‘For What It’s Worth.’

‘There's something happening here
but what it is ain't exactly clear
there’s a man with a gun over there
telling me I got to beware’

The song was primarily an Anti-Viet Nam War protest, but it reached across to many Social, Racial, Economic and Political injustices. These far-reaching, and remarkably insightful lyrics ring true again today.

‘What it is’ this time around though, is perfectly clear. Once again, a well-armed, well-organized, vocal minority is once again dictating to the real ‘Moral Majority’ what the future of this country shall be. The Armed, Vocal, Violent Minority, staged its ‘Big Show’ January 6^th 2021, but its Coup continues.

Mara Gay and the NY Times Editorial Board wrote today about ‘January 6^th Everyday’

‘ the Republic faces an existential threat from a movement that is openly contemptuous of democracy and has shown that it is willing to use violence to achieve its ends. No self-governing society can survive such a threat by denying that it exists. Rather, survival depends on looking back and forward at the same time.’ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/01/opinion/january-6-attack-committee.html

Ms. Gay speaks of the ‘Radical Minority’, (MAGA-Lytes), organized across State and County/Community Boards determined to undermine The Right to Vote/Voter Access. Republicans, (Mostly Trump Cronies), are working tirelessly to ensure that mostly only Republicans; mainly White Republican Trump Supporters, can Vote. These desperate men & women now get it; that they can no longer win a Free and Fair Majority Election in these United States.

It is ‘Happening’ Now. Right in front of us, out in the great wide open. It needs to be stopped. We have to, as the song says ‘Stop…’

 ‘I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?

The United States Constitution enshrines the Right to Vote for All American Citizens:

The 14^th Amendment (1868), to the U.S. Constitution declares -  No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” We can assume the phrase “the equal protection of the laws.” includes the Right to Vote.

Preceding the 14^th Amendment, the 12^th Amendment (1804), defines the Election of President “The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed” (Italics mine. jw) This is precisely what happened in 2020, and the outcome most Republicans seek to defy.

These enshrined Rights are then enforced by U.S. Code Title:

USC : U.S. Code Title 52 Subtitle I CHAPTER 101 § 10101

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/10101

Of Special Note here is Section 2 (B) No person acting under color of law shall— deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material….

   Also Section (b) Intimidation, threats, or coercion

No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, or Member of the House of Representatives, Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories or possessions, at any general, special, or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any such candidate.  (Italics mine. jw)

These are the very Constitutional Rights, and Voting Laws the current Republican Party seeks to eliminate in order to retain Power. They must not be allowed to undermine our democracy with such tactics.

10/11/2021 GOP & Trump push the Bilge

 

Bilge: 1 :the bulging part of a cask or barrel. 2a :the part of the underwater body of a ship between the flat of the bottom and the vertical topsides. b: the lowest point of a ship's inner hull. 3: stale or worthless remarks or ideas. Bilge.

Bilge water

the dirty water that collects in the bottom inside part of a ship

https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › bilge  

 Today, I looked quickly at a Chryon below a News Story on Television that I thought read: GOP & Trump Continue to push ‘Bilge’.

What it actually said was – ‘Continue to push big lie’.  Hmmm…I thought; pretty much the same thing.  

My friends down in St. Pete Beach, FL, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and the Rockaways in Queens, NY all understand what Bilge is, and how to manage it. I’m sure that not all of them agree with me that the ‘Big Lie’ is Bilge but as ‘many people’ say – It is what It is

 The ‘Big Lie’ is really filthy, dirty, contaminated Bilge and like Bilge, It needs to be expelled and disposed of. The January 6^th Congressional Select Committee is now engaged in that work. This is truly worthy work to preserve our Democracy from American Autocrats, and needs our enthusiastic support. There are at least 150 prominent Republicans who agree with this, and made the case in an Op-Ed in Monday’s New York Times,

 https://www.nytimes.com/

 ‘We Are Republicans. There’s Only One Way to Save Our Party From Pro-Trump Extremists.’

By Miles Taylor and Christine Todd Whitman

Mr. Taylor served at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as chief of staff, and was the anonymous author of a 2018 guest essay for The Times criticizing President Donald Trump’s leadership. Ms. Whitman was the Republican governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and served as E.P.A. administrator under President George W. Bush.

 ‘This year we joined more than 150 conservatives — including former governors, senators, congressmen, cabinet secretaries, and party leaders — in calling for the Republican Party to divorce itself from Trumpism or else lose our support, perhaps with us forming a new political party. Rather than return to founding ideals, Republican leaders in the House and in many states have now turned belief in conspiracy theories and lies about stolen elections into a litmus test for membership and running for office….’

 ‘…we agree on something more foundational — democracy. We cannot tolerate the continued hijacking of a major U.S. political party by those who seek to tear down our Republic’s guardrails or who are willing to put one man’s interests ahead of the country. We cannot tolerate Republican leaders — in 2022 or in the presidential election in 2024 — refusing to accept the results of elections or undermining the certification of those results should they lose.’

 Also, Ben Rhodes had some insightful commentary today on twitter and Deadline White House.

Benjamin J. Rhodes (born November 14, 1977) is a former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications under President Barack Obama. Rhodes attended Rice University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 2000 with majors in English and political science. (No slouch, he.).

Ben Rhodes Retwee  

3h "We've already been going down this road of turning into something like... an autocracy... you have a very methodical, very transparent, very deliberate effort to try and turn this country into a Donald Trumpian, autocratic reality" -

@brhodes

w/  @NicolleDWallace

 Clearly, Better Minds than mine are seriously concerned about the current state of Our Democracy. Perhaps, so too should you.

Indict Trump? 7/15/21

 Should Trump be indicted? I’m not talking about his Fraudulent, Tax Evading corrupt business practice – we’ll leave that to the NY State AG and the Manhattan District Attorney. Nor his legal problems with Election Interference in the State of Georgia, we’ll leave that to the Fulton County District Attorney, Atlanta Judicial Circuit. I mean here charges of Sedition and Conspiracy to Overthrow the U.S. Government. Credible Reporting by numerous sources inform us that Former Pres. Trump was actively advancing unconstitutional schemes to illegally seize power and remain in Office, after having overwhelmingly lost this Nation’s most secure, and most reviewed and contested Presidential Election.

Reliable, verifiable information now comes to light that in the end days of Trump’s failed Presidency and failed Re-election bid, Trump and his closest acolytes (Giuliani, Kushner, Trump Jr., Eric Trump, et al…), proposed Seditionist, Treasonous, Illegal Plans. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed. Much more thoughtful, reasonable people threatened Resignation and Press Conferences in order to rein-in Trump.

‘I Alone Can Fix It’  https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/13/book-excerpt-i-alone-can-fix-it/  By Carol D. Leonnig and Philip Rucker

"Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost. By Michael C. Bender

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-trumthps-team-struggled-to-tell-him-no-enabled-election-falsehoods

‘A Warning’ Anonymous (Miles Taylor)

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07YKR7PF1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_hWxWFbS09E7A7&tag=thewaspos09-20&reshareId=CX0SBKPM9QPPTES1XXZ4&reshareChannel=system

Recently, I compared the Trump Regime to the rise of Nazism in 1930’s Germany. Whenever and wherever I see Nazi-like conduct in Public and/or Government, I call it out.  (Please see: June 8 blog):   https://joeywalsez.blogspot.com/2021/06/democracy-itself-is-in-peril-here-at.html

Often, this is seen as over-emotional, overreaction. Personally, I think it ridiculous to claim the mantra of ‘Never Again!’, and then portray such comparisons as overreaction.

Eugene Robinson columnist and an associate editor of The Washington Post, (Pulitzer Prize Winner 2009), recently spoke of such comparisons – ‘I have a rule to columnists not to invoke Nazi’s, and here’s Gen. Mark Milley Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,  saying Trump’s Presidency is at a ‘Reichstag Moment’ with “Brownshirts” in the streets’, and the ‘Gospel of the Fuhrer’. Thank You, Mr. Robinson, and Gen. Milley, for Validation. 

 https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/02/26/reichstag-fire-manipulating-terror-to-end-democracy/   The Reichstag Warning  Timothy Snyder

Further, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffery, not a Trump Staffer, but a Pentagon ‘Insider’ none-the-less, said today on MSNBC: When Foreign Intelligence Officials examine Trump’s actions at the time, they would conclude – This guy’s planning a ‘Coup against Democracy’. He also described the Trump years in Washington as a ‘Nearly Illegal Presidency’.

In addition to being awarded the Silver Star, (Twice awarded the Silver Star for exceptional valor in Vietnam combat action as a rifle company commander (1^st Cavalry Division), Gen. McCaffery Co-chaired the United States NATO Counterterrorism Working Group and among other honors, Served as Lt. General on the Joint Chiefs Pentagon staff as the J5Strategic Planner, and also served as a Major General on the Army Pentagon staff as the strategic planner. Point being this Distinguished Patriot is a guy who knows of which he speaks.

Among the Generals was former Lt. Col. Mark Esper, previous Secretary of the Army and then U.S. Secretary of Defense. Trump fired Secretary Esper following Trump’s loss to Biden in November. Defense Secretary Esper has been described as ‘being at odds with the president’ in matters involving deployment of U.S. Military Forces to quell Domestic Disturbance, and invoking the Insurrection Act during Black Lives Matter protests.  ‘We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act.” Esper said then.

Had it not been for some mature, sane, reasonable people in positions of responsibility, the Nightmare that was the Trump Presidency could have been much worse. Should Trump be indicted? I think yes, the Congressional Hearings on the January 6^th Insurrection should conclude that Donald J. Trump should be Indicted and Prosecuted for Sedition against this Constitutional Republic, which is The United States of America. Also, there are some GOP Members of Congress on some very thin ice as well, (Hello, Mr. McCarthy). More will be revealed….

Pres. Biden’s Voting Rights Speech - Nice Words...

 

 7/13/21

I just listened to Pres. Biden’s Voting Rights Speech. It was a very nice bunch of very dramatic words, and unfortunately; nothing more. I like Pres. Biden. I support Pres. Biden. Pres Biden thus far, (including today’s wonderful speech), regarding Voter Rights; has been a bitter disappointment. A bunch of nice words is nice. When it comes to Voter Subversion, we need something much stronger than ‘Nice’.

When it comes to what Pres. Biden himself calls ‘Voter Subversion’, we need clear, substantial, and impactful assertive action by the U.S. AG and the Dept. of Justice. A famous book says ‘Faith without works is dead.’ Along these lines – Words without Action is meaningless.

The phony Arizona /Cyber Ninjas Election ‘Audit’ continues unimpeded and untouched by the U.S. DoJ, despite a very stern ‘Warning’. *May 5, 2021 VIA EMAIL The Honorable Karen Fann President, Arizona State Senate 1700 West Washington Street, Room 205 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Pamela S. Karlan Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division pamela.karlan@usdoj.gov :  More Words – No Action. Failure of AG Garland and DoJ to act spawned  disastrous consequences:   subsequently, the proposed Pennsylvania ‘Recount’. Failure of DoJ to act in Pennsylvania instance equals capitulation.

"The Big Lie is just that: A big lie," Pres. Biden said. He called efforts to call the election in question "dark" and "sinister" on Tuesday, saying they reflected "human nature at its worst." O.K., what Now?

 When, if ever, will AG Garland & DoJ proceed with the blatantly necessary Investigative work and Prosecution of the clearly dubious Arizona ‘Recount’? What actual action is the Biden Administration going to take to enforce U.S. Election Law?

Respectfully,  Jos. R. Walsh, Binghamton, NY  c.c. Sen.’s Schumer, Gillibrand, Spkr. Pelosi, DoJ,  https://joeywalsez.blogspot.com/ , MSNBC, Lincoln Proj., et al…

**Correction** In an early version of this text I stated that the 1/6 D.C. Insurrection was a result of DOJ's failure to act on Voter Suppression. I apologize for the obvious error; to AG Garland, the DOJ, and my readers,  jw 

 

AG Garland/DOJ - Arizona Pt.2

 

An Open Letter: DOJ, the White House, Speaker Pelosi, Sen.'s Schumer, Gillibrand, ...

To Whom...

When, if ever, will AG Garland & DoJ proceed with the blatantly necessary Investigative work and Prosecution of the clearly dubious Arizona ‘Recount’?

In my previous message to the Department (which seemingly does not merit any response from DoJ, after all I’m merely a lone Concerned Citizen. You should note though, that This Lone Concerned Citizen c.c.’d Sen.’s Schumer, Gillibrand, the White House, MSNBC, the Lincoln Project, others… .),

 I reported the Problem: See Previous Post

Since that message, the situation remains unchanged -

‘Cyber Ninjas’ and the Arizona Republican State Senate have apparently engaged in Electoral Criminal Misconduct, which as previously stated, compelled a DoJ Warning Letter. Yet, as stated, DoJ has seemingly failed to follow up its Warning with any substantial action.

This represents a tragic failure on the part of the Department to recognize the obvious link between phony Trump pronouncements of massive ‘Voter Fraud’ and the catastrophic threat posed from Domestic Violent Extremism, and White Supremacist Nationalist Terrorism. (See Washington D.C 1/6/21). Please see also DHS

https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021

  As the faux ‘Audit’ wraps -up, it’s clearly too late to prevent this disastrous folly. However, the period between the ‘Audit’ conclusion and the public announcement of its ‘findings’ is crucial. Failure of the Department to disclose its own findings in the matter as well as any future course of action, would then bestow the air of legitimacy to Arizona’s ‘Audit’ and ‘Cyber Ninjas’ operation.

Also, failure of AG Garland and the Department to act in a prudent and responsible manner in this case, can only result in damage to DoJ’s credibility and reputation.   jw

 

U.S. DOJ v. Arizona State Senate 6/21

 

It seems Today’s Dept. of Justice is now engaged in contradicting its own   Directive*with regard to Arizona Senate/’Cyber Ninjas’ so-called Election “Audit”:

*May 5, 2021 VIA EMAIL The Honorable Karen Fann President, Arizona State Senate 1700 West Washington Street, Room 205 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Pamela S. Karlan Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division pamela.karlan@usdoj.gov :

In the letter, DOJ describes its responsibility for “Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses, Eighth Edition 2017 at 75 (noting that “[t]he detection, investigation, and proof of election crimes – and in many instances Voting Rights Act violations – often depend[s] on documentation generated during the voter registration, voting, tabulation, and election certification processes”)*2 https://www.justice.gov/criminal/file/1029066/download

Despite this Directive/ Warning, the Arizona “Audit” proceeded undeterred by Any DOJ Action. The Arizona “Audit” continued without any adherence to Policy required by Law, and notification to Arizona Authorities.

DOJ further directed Arizona Authorities to obey Election Law with regard to ‘Cyber Ninjas’ intention “to conduct an audit of voting history” *3”, and that voters may be contacted through a “combination of phone calls and physical canvassing” to “collect information of whether the individual voted in the election” in November 2020. Statement of Work at ¶ 5.1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/cyber-ninjas-statement-of-work/2013a82d-a2cf-48be-8e9f-a26bfd5143e5/

Such “physical canvassing” and “phone calls”, were in fact, then conducted, by ‘Cyber Ninjas’ (?), Republican Officials (?), Random Maga-lytes (?).

DOJ even goes so far as to specifically note the inherent violation of the Voting Rights Act:  “The Department enforces a number of federal statutes that prohibit intimidation of persons for voting or attempting to vote. For example, Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act”

 Further; such action could “potentially can implicate the anti-intimidation prohibitions of the Voting Rights Act. Such investigative efforts can have a significant intimidating effect on qualified voters that can deter them from seeking to vote in the future.”

Bold words, followed up with apparently, No Action.

“Democracy itself is in peril – here at home and around the world,” U.S. President Joe Biden

 

GOP      6/2021       Jos. R. Walsh   

“Democracy itself is in peril – here at home and around the world,” U.S. President Joe Biden warned Monday 5/31 in remarks to commemorate the Memorial Day holiday.  https://im-media.voltron.voanews.com/Drupal/01live-166/styles/sourced/s3/2021-05/afp_biden_mem.jpg?itok=Y09W7VFy

I’m not saying Today’s Republicans are Nazis, (Close, but not quite…). Many of them are indeed neo-Nazis. And, Today’s GOP is very much behaving in Nazi ways: Racist Voter Suppression, Societal Division, Political Violence (see Washington, D.C.  1/6).

The D.C. Capitol Assault is eerily reminiscent of the 1933 Nazi burning of the Reichstag, and the November 8 / November 9, 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-reichstag-fire-and-nazis-rise-power-180962240/

In the 1933 Burning of the German Parliament, (the Reichstag), Hitler and the Nazis blamed the Left for the destruction, (sound familiar?). Before certain Q-Anon followers in Congress get to comparing COVID Vaccination to Nazi persecution of Jews, they’d do well to read up on some History. Not only did the Nazis use the Reichstag Fire as an excuse to seize power, Hitler and his gang used it a reason to enact Martial Law, and call-up Nazi Militias to enforce order.

Of course the ultimate blame for the 1933 Reichstag Fire remains a matter of controversy. In 2018 however, the German Federal Prosecutor overturned the conviction of the Dutch Communist activist prosecuted and beheaded by the Nazis, citing lack of any credibility in anything the Nazis ever charged against anyone for anything.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jan/12/secondworldwar.germany

Speaking of Militias; Oath Keepers: here we have Reporting of Self-avowed ‘Oath Keeper’, typical of Oath Keeper News -  “Newburgh tattoo artist Roberto Minuta made a remote court appearance on Tuesday” Chris McKenna The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y. (TNS)

June 3, 2021Updated: June 3, 2021 8:49 a.m ‘it quotes Minuta allegedly demanding police be ejected from the besieged Capitol as he made a video with his phone after going inside.’ “This is what's bound to happen, just get out!" Minuta yelled in the recording. "Get out! Get these cops out! It's our f---ing building! Get 'em out, get out!"

And; his wife stated - her husband went to Washington’ to provide security for Trump ally Roger Stone* and to prevent Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists from "attacking patriot crowds as they dispersed."

*A federal judge sentenced Stone, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, to 40 months in prison after a jury convicted Stone of making false statements, witness tampering, and obstruction in November. President Donald Trump officially commuted the prison sentence of Roger Stone on Friday, July 10 2020.

Trump MAGA-lytes frequently refer to political opponents as ‘Enemies’, and the free Press as “Enemies of The People”.

As Hitler and the Nazis gained popularity in Germany, ‘the Nazis denounced the Weimar Republic and the “November criminals,” politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles.’

Proud Boys -  Easily recognizable, thanks to their  red Make America Great Again baseball caps, members are regulars at far-right demonstrations and Trump rallies. After several years of forging alliances with members of the Republican political establishment, the Proud Boys have carved out a niche for themselves as both a right-wing fight club and a volunteer security force for the GOP. https://www.adl.org/proudboys

Proud Boys Events/Fights/Riots are reminiscent of, and akin to the 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch.  https://www.history.com/topics/germany/beer-hall-putsch#section_2

Another tactic used by Hitler and the Nazis, as well as most authoritarian Regimes, is the ‘Deputizing’ of line Party Officials, with authority to selectively enforce Election Laws, Process, and Outcomes.          https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-enabling-act

 In Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan as well as many other States, so-called ‘Election Reform’ Laws are being enacted to weaken State’s Secretary of State Authority, as well as County Election Officials, and give that authority to State Legislators in Republican-held Legislatures. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-march-2021

 Demonizing all those who are not with them, persecuting those who oppose them, disenfranchising those who would vote to replace them, are hallmarks of all Oppressive Regimes. And it appears, the current Republican Party as well. Stung by the prospect that This GOP cannot endure Free and Fair Elections, This GOP is doing all it can to destroy Democracy in our Great Constitutional  Republic. 

And The South Shall Rise Again II (Arizona ?) Note * New Blog Title*

 

How is this even Legal?

Arizona has somehow commenced to undertake a so-called ‘Audit’ of the repeatedly certified and verified 2020 Election. It is reported by the Washington Post, the NY Times, MSNBC and various other reliable News sources, that a Court has Ruled that the parties engaged in this ‘Recount’ (?),‘Cyber Ninjas’, Maricopa County, et al, provide documentation that appropriate Ballot Security measures are ensured during the ‘Audit’ process as a condition for proceeding. That provision has not been enforced.

Prior to Recusing himself at the request of ‘Cyber Ninjas’, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury offered to pause the Recount pending compliance by ‘Cyber Ninjas’, et al, IF Democrats posted a $1 million bond to cover added expenses.

The rampant partisanship in this matter is appalling. First Judge Coury imposes an unreasonable condition upon the plaintiffs seeking entirely reasonable conditions for the process to proceed. Then, after setting this outlandish imposition, Judge Coury then recuses himself at the request of ‘Cyber Ninjas’. After Judge Coury required this $1Million bond, ‘Cyber Ninjas’ adds an attorney to their team, who formerly worked as Coury’s intern, and subsequently asks Coury to Recuse. Coury complies, a new judge is assigned, a new hearing is set for Tuesday, (4/27?), and meanwhile, the bogus ‘Count’ continues.

There is too much for one mind to unravel here, but, I’ll Try:

First, I understand that Individual States, and Individual Counties within each State, have considerable autonomy over their own elections, but that said, aren’t there Constitutional protections that ensure the validity of U.S. Presidential Elections?

And, is the Arizona Senate empowered to exclusively select an Out-of-State, obviously politically partisan private Contractor to conduct a secret ‘audit’ of a Presidential Election? For instance aren’t taxpayer-funded projects subject to competitive bid, as well as public disclosure/oversight procedures? 

(Does the Arizona GOP see itself some sort of contemporary Confederacy, exempt from Federal Election Law and long accepted norms?) There is also the issue of unidentified 3^rd parties contributing funds to offset the cost and expenses of this operation.

Is it permissible, or ethical, for a Respondent to add an Attorney to their own team, who might possibly present an apparent conflict, After proceedings have begun and Rulings have already been decided? Also, is it permissible/ethical for a judge to then Recuse, after Ruling in proceedings that have commenced? Is the Ruling valid after the Judge Recused for apparent Conflict?  

Is it Legal for a privately owned company to possess and control Election Ballot Information without Neutral 3rd-party observation? What Right, does any state Political Party have to conceal ‘Audit’ proceedings from an opposing Party or the General Public? This sham need be stopped, exposed, or both.

‘Failure of Imagination’ - 9/11 Commission 1/6: Missed It!

 

After the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11/01, a National Commission was convened by United States President George W. Bush and Congress. In its ‘Final Report’ the Commission cited a ‘Failure of Imagination’ on the part of U.S. Security/Counter-Terrorism officials as contributing to the disaster. Security/C-T authorities were persuaded to ‘Re-imagine’ Terror Tactics.

Following the 1/6/21 Domestic Terror insurgency at the U.S. Capitol, there were once again calls to ‘Re-imagine’ Terror Threats. In each case, ‘Imagination’, or the lack thereof, was not the issue. Nor was lack of ‘intelligence’. Lack of Common Sense prevailed in both episodes.

We were mis-informed; I thereby- came to a mistaken conclusion: we were told that accurate Intel. was not passed along to Command Officers on 1/6 (See Previous Post https://joeywalsez.blogspot.com/2021/02/1621-hauntingly-familiar.html)  -

“Today, the ex-Chief of the Capitol Police gave sworn testimony that on January 4^th, the FBI had information that a large armed and dangerous gang of extremists was gathering for the January 6 ‘Protest’. He got that information yesterday, Feb, 22.”

Well, it turns out that accurate information was in fact passed to Upper-level Command; they recklessly decided not to act responsibly on that information. Not only did the FBI and other Homeland Security agencies have the vital information, so too did, of all outfits – the Anti-Defamation League.

https://www.adl.org/blog/extremists-and-mainstream-trump-supporters-plan-to-protest-congressional-certification-of

PBS Frontline did a remarkable Documentary detailing the violent insurgency:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/

(Which is why I Support them both, and you should too.)

Also, Luke Broadwater and Nicholas Fandos at the NY Times have extensive reporting on the known threats at the time.  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/us/politics/capitol-police-riot-report.html

The misinformation and misdirection by D.C. Security Officials led me to mistaken conclusions, (Gawd; I Hate When That Happens!).  At the time I wrote about procedures that require e-confirmation of transmission/possession of crucial Intel. While I may have been misled to that particular solution; it’s still a valid method for confirmation of Who has What Information, and Where and When they had it. That itself, would prevent (hopefully), someone waltzing into a Congressional Hearing, (or any other Investigation), and Lying about who knew what, and when.

As multiple sources cite; the MAGA-Lyte, White Supremacists D.C. insurgents had been threatening violence against the U.S. Congress, as well as any and all other opponents in Washington, D.C. on 1/6, as early as December 2020 right up to 1/6/21. Never Forget.

To claim an absence of actionable Intel. is simply arrogant Disinformation.  

3/25/21 And The South Shall Rise Again(?)

 

And it is as Deplorable, Despicable and Dastardly as ever.

The Ole South rises again. And it begins, not too surprisingly, in Georgia. We see now, the old Racist Confederacy reasserted. We see once again, the perversion of the concept of ‘States Rights’. This is the same Cover Dixie used during the Civil War, (which, Lest We Forget, They Lost), to defend Slavery. More on that in a bit…

 In 1980 and on, The U.S. Supreme Court granted absurd leeway to States to design and enforce their own election laws. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/446/55/    https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/446/55/case.html#68

 The leeway granted was absurd in that it clearly ran contrary to the intent of U.S. Constitution to vigorously defend U.S. Citizens of the Right to Vote, regardless in which Colony they lived.

Implied in the SCOTUS decision was the notion that if State Residents did not choose to live under a States’ Law they could either change the Law, or change their State of Residence. Neither choice necessary or easy. Not necessary, because we understood The U.S. Constitution to defend the Voting Rights of U.S. Citizens. Not easy or convenient for all the obvious reasons.

Speaking of obvious reasons – The Civil War. One of The Confederacy’s fundamental failures was lack of Economic Power. This brings us of course to Coca-Cola https://www.coca-colacompany.com/home  Delta Airlines https://www.delta.com/  The Atlanta Hawks https://www.nba.com/hawks/# 

The Atlanta Braves https://www.mlb.com/braves  Tyler Perry Studios https://www.facebook.com/tylerperrystudios/  

AT&T https://about.att.com/pages/racial_equality WellsFargohttps://www.wellsfargo.com/about/  Georgia Chamber of Commerce https://www.gachamber.com/

 If these companies continue to support racist Georgia’s Economy, Then, in good conscience, the rest of us can only hold these corporations in well-deserved contempt. This of course will be labeled ‘Cancel Culture’. O.K., Whatever. The rest of us call it Social Consciousness.

If Good Ole Dixie can be once again be defeated by Economic Might; so be it.

1/6/21 – Hauntingly Familiar

 

The most substantial domestic response to the disastrous debacle that was 9/11 seems to have been the creation of the Dept. Of Homeland Security – DHS.

I think I may have actually physically groaned upon hearing that the response to this dreadful security failure out of D.C. was to create a new, larger bureaucracy. In typically absurd reasoning the Washington, D.C. solution to too much bureaucracy was more bureaucracy.

 Key findings emerging from post-event 9/11 analysis was not that the U.S. Government Administration did not have enough information about the impending attacks; apparently there was plenty of disturbing information around Government Agencies about looming disaster, but that that information was not usefully distributed to the appropriate security services. Thus; DHS.

As we enter into an autopsy of the disaster that was the 1/6/21 Capitol Insurrection, the immediate emerging theme is once again that there was plenty of disturbing information around, but that that information, despite the mammoth information super-store that is the obviously ineffective DHS, that information was not appropriately distributed to, and managed amongst, the frontline security services. So much for the dramatic creation for yet another massive, bumbling D.C. behemoth.  It was stated today that we need to ‘Re-imagine’ the handling of timely, sensitive Security Intel. Hmmm…. Where have we heard that one before?  It’s time now, 20 Years later, to ’Re-imagine’ the same thing over, again.

Early testimony in Senate hearings into the pro-Trump Capitol Insurrection, determined to disrupt the peaceful transfer of Presidential Power, including quite possibly lynching Vice-President Pence, and the assassination of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seems to indicate that despite the discovery and possession of information about the looming insurrection, the ‘Right Customers’ did not get the ‘Right Information’ in a manner sufficient to adequately address and manage the threat.  

Today, the ex-Chief of the Capitol Police gave sworn testimony that on January 4^th, the FBI had information that a large armed and dangerous gang of extremists was gathering for the January 6 ‘Protest’. He got that information yesterday, Feb,22.

An FBI Warning was sent to a Sergeant at the Intelligence Unit of the Capitol Police Department, and went no further. According to then- Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, no Command Chief Officer of the Capitol Police Dept., or the D.C. Metropolitan Police were notified of the report. Nor were the Sergeant-At-Arms of either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate. Homeland Security anyone?

Within the elaborate structure of the massive DHS; someone, somewhere, somehow, should have created a protocol where information shared among Security Agencies is then distributed  to appropriate Command-Level Officers; some sort of Digital Return Receipt. If someone sends me time-sensitive, important information it arrives by Certified Mail, requiring signature receipt. Shouldn’t the same sort of e-verification be required for timely ‘Homeland Security’ information?

In an unfolding Domestic Security Disaster every second counts. Despite Pre-planning Conferences and exercises, which require Commanding Officers remain present at an Agency’s Designated Command Post, Command Chiefs were instead On-scene, On-the-ground amidst the calamitous Riot at The Capitol. Predictably, there is confusion about exactly when Chiefs of each Police Department met to discuss requesting National Guard assistance. D.C Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham testified that the conversation occurred at 1:10 PM.  Capitol Police Chief Sund said it was 2:19 PM, an Hour and Twenty Minute Difference.

If each Commander had been at their proper respective Command Post, instead in the middle of a Riot, there would undoubtedly be an accurate record of the conversation.20 Years after 9/11, after Hundreds of Millions of Dollars, Thousands of Employees at DHS, 2 Police Chiefs cannot agree about what time a vitally important conversation about managing a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol took place. Wonderful.

Lindsey Graham – No Mistake. 2/13/21

 

No Mistake about it; Senator Lindsey Olin Graham (R-SC), is an absolute zero.

A popular adage goes that ‘there is less there than meets the eye.’ Senator Graham’s case is even more severe – there is absolutely Nothing there. Former Trump Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Kelley once observed of a prominent Democratic Politician that ‘an empty drum makes the most noise’. The same would be better said for Lindsey Graham; minus ‘The Drum’, just noise.

 I suppose one could expect as much from a Pickens County SC Republican.

He has no moral compass, no principals, no compassion. Nothing. All hauntingly similar to Today’s GOP. Nothing there either.

 He is a weather vane, whichever way the wind blows is his present direction. When the wind blows against Trump, he’s against Trump – "All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough… We’ve got to end it.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/01/12/lindsey-graham-travels-with-trump-to-texas-a-week-after-renouncing-him/?sh=641313d82d9d

When the wind blows for Trump, he’s among the most loyal Trump supporters ever – The senator said he thinks “most Republicans found the presentation by the House Managers offensive and absurd.” https://www.wmbfnews.com/2021/02/11/graham-calls-evidence-presented-against-trump-impeachment-trial-offensive-absurd/

Wow, all in just a couple of weeks! Graham’s as solid as mercury. He once claimed that choosing between favoring Sen. Cruiz (R-TX), and Donald Trump akin ‘to being shot or taking poison’. True That.

 Sen. Graham’s Self-serving blind obedience to MAGA Terrorists is surpassed only by his cowardice to stand by his Oath to Serve, Protect and Defend.

P.S. What a Poor Sucker Trump Loyalist Mike Pence turned out to be, eh?

Trump's American Disgrace

Our 'Long National Nightmare' over ? Well, not quite. This particular Nightmare gets worse before ending. "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over". https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/speeches/740001.asp

Outgoing President (?) Trump's Obstruction of Transition is an outright appalling disgrace. Trump once said "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?" Trump remarked at a campaign stop at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. "It's, like, incredible."

1/23/16 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/23/464129029/donald-trump-i-could-shoot-somebody-and-i-wouldnt-lose-any-voters

Trump made this deplorable comment at, of all places a 'Christian College' in Sioux Center, Iowa. WWJD? 

As distressing as the comment is, it might actually be true. At least Trump's Co-conspirators so argued in court. " Attorneys for Trump made the claim while arguing before a federal appeals court in their suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who has subpoenaed Trump’s tax returns."

Judge Denny Chin pressed him on how the crime would be handled while Trump remained in office. “Nothing could be done, that’s your position?” he said.

“That is correct,” Consovoy replied. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/23/trump-lawyer-prosecuted-shooting-someone-055648

Now, we see such horrid observations come true.

Nearly 480,000 Americans have Died and continue to Die at alarming rates and Trump's response is to stonewall efforts for the incoming Presidential Administration to be completely current on the latest Governmental Information on the deadly pandemic. This negligent Mass-Murder is totally appalling on its own, but even more distressing in that Nothing is being done about it.

I understand that just about everyone is exhausted with efforts to hold Trump accountable for his Crimes, but this is completely more urgent than our 'feelings'.

What if anyone else other than Trump participated in such Criminally Negligent Manslaughter? How much would we put up with? We as a Nation and a People would not just shrug it off and say 'Well, we can't do anything about it'. Whatever might be even possible to pursue in demanding accountability and responsibility must be pursued no matter how 'Tired' we may be. More and more people are dying of COVID everyday. Every possible remedy must be initiated.

The 'MAGA-lytes', including those in the U.S. Senate, claim themselves Patriots. Please. 

Hillary Clinton more accurately described them as 'Deplorable'. 

 

Barr Must Resign

Tyrant Barr Must Resign, or face impeachment.

It’s Wm. Barr’s turn for Impeachment. Congress should not balk with the excuse that a GOP-held Senate will not validate the effort – Let the House of Representatives be known historically that when the moment demanded, they stood with the U.S. Constitution despite Republican obstruction.  Let the Senate come out once again and show the Nation where they stand in Defense of Liberty.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/donald-ayer-bill-barr-must-resign/606670/

‘We are in a bad place now’- Rachel Maddow. That’s putting it mildly. More accurate are the observations of a consensus of Two Thousand former Dept. of Justice Prosecutors:

https://protectdemocracy.org/update/1100-doj-alumni-condemn-abuse-of-power-and-call-for-new-leadership-at-justice/

 “The undersigned, are alumni of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) who have collectively served both Republican and Democratic administrations. Each of us strongly condemns President Trump’s and Attorney General Barr’s interference in the fair administration of justice”

‘President Trump and Attorney General Barr have openly and repeatedly flouted fundamental principle, most recently in connection with the sentencing of President Trump’s close associate, Roger Stone, who was convicted of serious crimes.’

‘Such behavior is a grave threat to the fair administration of justice. In this nation, we are all equal before the law. A person should not be given special treatment in a criminal prosecution because they are a close political ally of the President. Governments that use the enormous power of law enforcement to punish their enemies and reward their allies are not constitutional republics; they are autocracies.’ ‘We are in a bad place’ indeed.

Also looming is Barr’s DOJ ‘Review’ (whatever that involves); of the Michael Flynn Case. Another instance of Barr interjecting himself in a Justice Matter that had been already decided. Flynn plead Guilty, admitting that he in fact committed the alleged Felonies. Now, the Barr/Trump Administration decide upon ‘Review’.

Daily Kos reports further on DOJ Injustice:  “The Justice Department's internal watchdog must investigate the corrupt about-face made at the seeming behest of Donald Trump and call out cronyism within its own ranks. But given how compromised disgraced Attorney General William Barr is, we cannot trust the Justice Department to correct its course. The House Judiciary Committee, which has oversight of Barr, must also investigate independently.”

“The Justice Department undid the work of career civil servants prosecuting Trump's confidante, the convicted criminal Roger Stone, shortening the sentence they were seeking in his case.
All four of the federal attorneys responsible for pursuing justice for Stone's crimes have resigned in protest.” More accurately three Resigned from the Case; and the fourth, Jonathan Kravis, boldly resigned DOJ altogether — both from the case and as an assistant U.S. attorney. 

The Federal Judges Association is so alarmed by Barr’s intervention they’ve called an Emergency Meeting:  https://www.federaljudgesassoc.org/

‘Philadelphia U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, who heads the independent Federal Judges Association, said the group “could not wait” until its spring conference to weigh in on a deepening crisis that has enveloped the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr’.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/17/roger-stone-sentence-judges-worried-political-interference/4788155002/

“There are plenty of issues that we are concerned about,” Rufe told USA TODAY. “We’ll talk all of this through”

10/2 Trump Admin. Launches Obstruction Campaign

In March of 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and Ukrainian Solders and Citizens have been fighting and dying there since. Meanwhile, Pres. Trump, has gone to great lengths to support Russian Pres. Putin, over the apparatus and interests of the United States.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/putin-confirms-annexation-crimea-ukrainian-soldier-casualty

As Congress begins Impeachment Investigation and our Free Press exposes ‘High Crimes and Misdemeanors’, the Trump Administration has launched its’ obstruction and misdirection Campaign.

The Dept. of Justice (DOJ), State Dept., and White House Staff, as well as Rudolph Giuliani, have corrupted the mission of the U.S. Government, violated Constitutional Principals,  and shattered National trust. Having so engaged, they now proceed to obstruct and obfuscate examination of this hideous conduct.

The U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of State, Pres. Trump, and White House Administration have previously, and presently engage in illegal, immoral, Obstruction of Justice, and Hindering Prosecution.

In his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian Pres.  Volodymyr Zelensky, Pres. Trump clearly solicited a Political favor from Zelensky, according to notes on the call provided by the White House. Pres. Trump’s public defense has been that there was ‘No pressure’ during the call. But, as MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell and others report – ‘Pressure’ here, is irrelevant. The mere fact that Trump solicited a favor to benefit his Re-election Campaign, is Illegal.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/211

‘Opposition Research’, or defamatory information on a political opponent, is accepted in U.S. Courts as a ‘thing of value’.  So much for Trump’s Defense of ‘No Pressure’.

Rudolph Giuliani holds no official title in the U.S. Government, (which creates various questions about his recent activities on behalf of the President, and/or the State Dept.), but has identified himself as ‘President Trump’s Attorney.

Giuliani has been subpoenaed by   the House Intelligence Committee.

https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/documents/20190930%20-%20Giuliani%20HPSCI%20Subpoena%20Schedule%20Only.pdf

 Astonishingly, Giuliani has said he will ‘consider his options’ regarding his appearance. As If ! – Giuliani has only One ‘Option’; which is complete and timely compliance. His imploring any other course is akin to Obstruction, and Contempt of Congress. In normal times, (Remember those?), Such Contempt would be investigated and subsequently prosecuted by the Department of Justice, under the direction of the U.S. Attorney General. These are far from ‘Normal Times’ and AG Wm. Barr has shown himself be a total lapdog of Pres. Trump.

However, given that Barr himself has been shown to be implicated in Trump’s extortion of Ukraine, he should by all rights, be excluded, or ‘Recused’, from Congress’ on-going investigation. In his extortion of Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump told him to contact Barr and Giuliani to investigate Former V.P. Biden and his son Hunter. If Barr is identified by Trump as a contact for this Investigation, he obviously can’t be seen as an impartial party.

18 U.S. Code § 872.Extortion by officers or employees of the United States

(C) the term “extortion” means an offense that has as its elements the extraction of anything of value from another person by threatening or placing that person in fear of injury to any person or kidnapping of any person;  source:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode

 Secretary of State Pompeo’s implication in the scheme, and therefore his ‘Conflict’, is as blatant and obvious. Pompeo directed State Dept. Staff to obstruct the Congressional Investigation, and defamed Congress in a letter slandering the Investigation. In his misguided letter, Pompeo not only defies Congressional Authority, he deprives State Dept. Staff of their Right to have ‘Personal Counsel’ present.

https://games-cdn.washingtonpost.com/notes/prod/default/documents/a516c696-4d03-47f5-a8db-af11fa23ac02/note/c3f9c706-4e67-4a33-bc97-fd5687546349.pdf#page=1

As this unfolds, the State Dept. Inspector General appears before Congress with ‘Urgent’ and relevant information.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-whistleblower-state/congress-to-be-briefed-on-alleged-retaliation-against-u-s-diplomats-over-ukraine-idUSKBN1WH1WA

This bold defiance of Congress’ Constitutional Authority should be appalling to freedom-loving Americans, and is reminiscent of Article III of the Nixon Impeachment proposal.

 http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/johnson/rnimparticles.htm

It shall be noted here, and Wm. Barr should take heed; as part of the proceedings against Pres. Nixon, A.G. J. Mitchell was exposed to illegally abuse the power of the Office and subsequently convicted and sentenced to prison.

Adios, Mr. Trump.  

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi + POTUS Donald J. Trump = Impeachment

Speaker Pelosi – Cautious, Procedural, Deliberate. Pres. Trump – Lawless, Reckless, Disdainful. Inevitable End Result – Impeachment.  

Six Days ago, I posted that Impeachment loomed; turns out …

https://joeywalsez.blogspot.com/2019/09/dni-nsc-news-trump-sharpie-signs-obamas.html

Finally, here we are. Speaker of the House of Representatives, (3^rd in line of succession), has finally caved to the momentous pressure for formal Impeachment proceedings in the House. She has been patient, deliberate and determined in maintaining a cautious stance toward Impeachment, but now, enough is enough.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-face-critical-day-on-pursuing-impeachment-11569336620

Readers who follow this blog know I’ve called for Impeachment since January of 2017.  Perhaps too soon for most Americans but, I believe, credible nonetheless. Now, in plain sight, Pres. Trump has betrayed this nation in an intolerable manner and Speaker Pelosi has finally had enough.

Anyone paying any attention to my meanderings knows that I favor Democrats, and am somewhat Left-leaning, (Pardon me). That said, I strive for objectivity in my presentation here, (Frequently unsuccessfully).   As you can imagine, Ms. Pelosi’s hesitation has been personally aggravating. However, one must acknowledge and accept Speaker Pelosi’s delay as her right.

Nancy Pelosi has had her own legitimate concerns in her cautious approach in initiating Impeachment proceedings, maddening as they may be. I’m somewhat of a lukewarm supporter, of the Speaker. In some instances I believe her to be too liberal, and in others, not liberal enough. So be it. Her hesitant, cautious, maddening restraint is born of experienced deliberation.

Ms. Pelosi, 79, has been a Member of Congress for over 30 Years.  She was present in Congress for the 3 Month Impeachment Proceedings of Pres. Bill Clinton. She was witness to that experience, and that and other Congressional experience contribute to her cautious proceeding, as maddening as it may be to some of us. She’s no kid, and this ain’t her first rodeo.

Now though, Mr. Trump has gone too far. His lawless reckless abandon has generated enough revulsion that even hesitant, cautious observers have been compelled to drastic reaction. Seven Members of Congress, from Trump-leaning Districts and a lot to lose, publicly called for Impeachment proceedings.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/24/seven-freshman-democrats-these-allegations-are-threat-all-we-have-sworn-protect/

 These Members have in common, years of dedicated patriotic service to the United States. They have served in U.S. Intelligence and Combat Service. Collectively, having put All on the line to Protect, Defend, and Serve the Constitution, were compelled to action, in opposition to a President operating in direct defiance of such noble principals.

While Ukrainian Soldiers, (U.S. Allies, by the way), are fighting and dying in repelling a Russian Invasion, Pres. Trump sought to leverage U.S. Support to his own Political advantage. Enough.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-isnt-just-another-spat-trump-compromised-our-security-for-his-gain/2019/09/24/b3eb24ae-df09-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html