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'. 

 

THREAT: Donald J. Trump

THREAT: Donald J. Trump

The United States of America now faces the greatest threat to our Free Democracy in modern history. To Wit: Pres. Trump has threatened the historical and honored tradition of ‘Peaceful Transition of Power’, long-held as this Nation’s ultimate exercise of a Free, Democratic Constitutional Republic.

In a widely covered White House Press Conference, Trump responded to a question about assuring a peaceful transition by saying – ‘Well, we’ll see…’ https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-voting-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-8bb28627b03474a3a5ce2454ae3d1639

Well – we’ll see’? What the Hell is That? Brave, Dedicated Men and Women, since the time of The American Revolution, both in the public eye and covertly, have fought and died to ensure that noble standard. And now, this super-egotist, tyrannical wanna’-be Dictator, says ‘Well…We’ll see…’ As he usually does, never knowing when to stop talking, he makes this horrid mess even worse, (sort of like the Pandemic). 'If we throw out the ballots - then we can have a continuation of power'. Oh. 

This dreadful man, so ignorant and aloof; can’t even handle a very basic Softball question from a Reporter. The easy answer to that question, Donald, is, even if you don’t really mean it; ‘Yes. Next Question’. Idiot. Not Only a ‘useful idiot’ to Putin and others abroad who seek to destroy our sacred freedom, but a dangerous idiot to the American People who cherish that freedom.

 Barton Gellman in ‘The Atlantic’ warns, in a well- researched and compelling article:

“The coronavirus pandemic, a reckless incumbent, a deluge of mail-in ballots, a vandalized Postal Service, a resurgent effort to suppress votes, and a trainload of lawsuits are bearing down on the nation’s creaky electoral machinery.”

Pardon the overplayed vernacular but; this article is a ‘Must Read’ for all truly patriotic Americans.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/11/what-if-trump-refuses-concede/616424/

Meanwhile, Trump’s new personal lawyer, Attorney General Wm. Barr, says he sees nothing wrong about Trump’s recent comments.

“Many of the claims made by Russian sources are identical to repeated, unsupported public statements aired by President Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr, who have said that mailed ballots aren’t trustworthy while warning of the potential for rampant fraud in November’s elections.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/voting-by-mail-russia-trump-barr/2020/09/04/e3f0e500-ee60-11ea-99a1-71343d03bc29_story.html

 Also we have as co-conspirators, the so-called ‘Right to Life’’ supporters blindly obedient to the man who has overseen the Deaths of 206,000 Americans. That, another kettle of fish entirely. From VP Pence, Sen. Majority Leader ‘Moscow Mitch’ Mc Connell, on to Sen.s and lying hypocrites, Lindsey Ghram,  Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, et al … These fake patriots back Trump at every turn and thereby indict themselves as complicit in his dreadful schemes and plans.

God Save Us, from these dreadful Autocrats.

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.