babylonsister
babylonsister's JournalTrump's State of the Union address gives away the game: he fears investigations
Trumps State of the Union address gives away the game: he fears investigations
02/06/19 08:00 AMUpdated 02/06/19 08:05 AM
By Steve Benen
The morning after the 2018 midterm elections, Donald Trump published a curious tweet that sounded like a threat: the president wrote that if the House Democratic majority launched investigations in Trumps many scandals, Republicans would likewise be forced to consider investigating them.
A few hours later, at a White House press conference, Trump reiterated the threat, insisting he could direct the Republican-led Senate to examine very questionable things Democrats have done if the new House majority conducted vigorous oversight of him. It was at this same press conference that the president dismissed the idea of working with Congress at all in the midst of investigations.
You cant do them simultaneously, by the way, he insisted. Somebody says, Oh, you can do em both. No, you cant. Because if theyre doing that, were not doing the other, just so you understand. So we wont be doing that.
In effect, Trump gave Democrats a choice between legislating and conducting oversight. Congress, in the presidents mind, could tackle substantive issues or it could examine his many scandals, but it couldnt do both because he wouldnt allow it.
Early on in the presidents State of the Union address last night, Trump adopted a similar posture.
If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesnt work that way!
None of this was ad-libbed; what he said was exactly as it appeared in the prepared text.
To my mind, these 48 words mattered more than anything else in the presidents 82-minute speech. With these three sentences, the Republican effectively gave away the game: Donald Trump is afraid of what investigations might produce.
more...
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-state-the-union-address-gives-away-the-game-he-fears-investigations?cid=sm_fb_maddow&fbclid=IwAR0kkMOBJq7xUKyKevk8uZnSFDsWH-eYfqnwkfge1Y0RlnMMGinayb1ZRyA
New Mexico governor pulls National Guard troops from border
New Mexico governor pulls National Guard troops from border
The governor of New Mexico is withdrawing the majority of the state's National Guard troops from the U.S. border with Mexico in a move that challenges President Trump's description of a security crisis
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. Feb 5, 2019 9:09 PM ET
The governor of New Mexico ordered the withdrawal of the majority of the state's National Guard troops from the U.S. border with Mexico on Tuesday, in a move that challenges President Trump's description of a security crisis.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the partial withdrawal shortly before Trump's State of the Union address. Her Republican predecessor deployed National Guard troops to the border in April 2018 at Trump's suggestion, and 118 remained there before Tuesday's reversal.
"New Mexico will not take part in the president's charade of border fear-mongering by misusing our diligent National Guard troops," Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
At the same time, the governor said a small contingent around a dozen guardsmen will remain in the southwestern corner of the state to assist with humanitarian needs in a remote corridor for cross-border immigration. She also mobilized state police to assist local law enforcement.
"I recognize and appreciate the legitimate concerns of residents and officials in southwestern New Mexico, particularly Hidalgo County, who have asked for our assistance, as migrants and asylum-seekers continue to appear at their doorstep," the governor said.
more...
https://abcnews.go.com/beta-story-container/Politics/wireStory/mexico-governor-pulls-national-guard-troops-border-60869453
Democrats Laugh In Trump's Face As Whines About Investigations During SOTU
https://www.politicususa.com/2019/02/05/democrats-laugh-in-trumps-face-as-whines-about-investigations-during-sotu.htmlPosted on Tue, Feb 5th, 2019 by Jason Easley
Democrats Laugh In Trumps Face As Whines About Investigations During SOTU
Democrats could barely hold back their laughter as Trump claimed that investigating his crimes hurts the economy during the State Of The Union.
https://twitter.com/politicususa/status/1092973632295456769
Trump didnt explain how investigating a corrupt president who has been linked to multiple felonies hurts the economy, but the camera turned to House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff who let a small smile escape his face and later Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer who looked like he was trying to hold back laughter.
Trump was warning Democrats not investigate him for the good of the country. The argument is so absurd that all one can do is laugh. Trump thinks that he is the country, and cant comprehend that the best way to save the country is to investigate and potentially remove the corrupt president from office.
A Weird Vibe at the State of the Union
https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/06/a-weird-vibe-at-the-state-of-the-union/A Weird Vibe at the State of the Union
February 6, 2019 at 6:37 am EST By Taegan Goddard
The depleted House Republican minority was on its feet frequently, chanting and cheering, hooting and hollering months after their 40-seat loss. They were especially inspired when the president said there could not be ridiculous, partisan investigations into his administration, perhaps forgetting that they investigated Barack Obama in ways that could be described in similar words.
Los Angeles Times: In his 1 hour, 22 minute speech to a joint session of Congress one of the longest on record Trump addressed two audiences and tried to accomplish two goals at odds with each other. Even as he exhorted members of Congress to come together on an agenda of shared legislative interests, he provoked Democrats on immigration, abortion and investigations of his administration.
Politico: President Donald Trump urged bipartisanship during his State of the Union address Tuesday. Then he promptly called for Democrats to help him build a border wall, enact a new abortion ban and preemptively end the Houses investigations. Needless to say, it did not go over well.
President Trump calls for investigations into him to end during State of the Union -- just like Nixon
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-trump-nixon-investigation-watergate-20190205-story.html?fbclid=IwAR0NsvTBXU7OkCxJVEFjagG0Sx_0A3uGjvtGMR60OP2aNDbmW7jMZP8G5xEPresident Trump calls for investigations into him to end during State of the Union just like Nixon did
By KATE FELDMAN
| NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
Feb 05, 2019 | 9:55 PM
Do as Nixon says, but maybe not as he does.
Echoing President Nixons 1974 State of the Union, President Trump called for an end of investigations into him during Tuesday nights address.
If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn't work that way.
A direct dig at House Democrats and Robert Mueller, Trump clearly signified his disapproval of the probes into the 2016 election, which are still ongoing.
More than 40 years ago, Nixon lashed out similarly amid an investigation into the Watergate scandal and the cover-up of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
"I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end, he said in his 1974 address. One year of Watergate is enough."
Two weeks later, the House overwhelmingly voted to give the Judiciary Committee the authority to look into impeachment charges.
omg, he's still yapping, now
talking about abortion. Where are those damned figures of how many he paid for?
"Finally a candidate who will actually put America First rather than Israel First!"
https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/05/bonus-quote-of-the-day-1092/Bonus Quote of the Day
February 5, 2019 at 1:39 pm EST By Taegan Goddard
David Duke, quoted by NBC News, seemingly endorsing Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) for president.
Trump Threatens to Build 'Human Wall'
https://politicalwire.com/2019/02/05/trump-threatens-to-build-human-wall/
Trump Threatens to Build Human Wall
February 5, 2019 at 10:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard
Said Trump: Tremendous numbers of people are coming up through Mexico in the hopes of flooding our Southern Border. We have sent additional military. We will build a Human Wall if necessary.
Trump, Kushner met with contractors to discuss building border wall (last week)
That's it! No wall for you!!
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/politics/trump-contractors-border-wall-national-emergency/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_content=2019-02-05T19%3A03%3A15&utm_source=fbCNNp&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0hQTOG1GYb_D8gXpT2mw8J2aiKNRZl_qNZ6rPdGZF2JQeIfbU243YPPdc
Trump, Kushner met with contractors to discuss building border wall
By Kaitlan Collins, CNN
Updated 12:34 PM ET, Tue February 5, 2019
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, met with contractors at the White House to discuss building the border wall late last week, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told CNN.
Despite CNN reporting that several senior Senate Republicans and members of GOP leadership have raised serious concerns about the possibility of Trump bypassing Congress and using an emergency declaration to build his wall, the President's meeting with contractors shows that he is seriously considering doing so.
The White House declined to comment on the meeting. White House counsel Pat Cipollone was also present.
Trump came close to declaring an emergency after competing proposals to end the government shutdown both failed in the Senate at the end of January. But aides convinced him that waiting three weeks while a special committee of senators and representatives attempted to hash out a deal was a better idea. Then, if those congressional negotiators couldn't come up with an agreement that funded the wall, he could declare a national emergency.
Trump has expressed doubt in recent days that the committee will find a solution he accepts.
"Listen closely to the State of the Union," he said Friday when asked if he was ready to announce a national emergency.
Saudi Arabia Gave U.S. Weapons to al Qaeda-Linked Fighters: CNN
https://www.thedailybeast.com/saudi-arabia-gave-us-weapons-to-al-qaeda-linked-fighters-cnn?ref=homeSaudi Arabia Gave U.S. Weapons to al Qaeda-Linked Fighters: CNN
Reuters / Andreas Martinez
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