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babylonsister

babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
February 6, 2019

Trump's State of the Union address gives away the game: he fears investigations


Trump’s State of the Union address gives away the game: he fears investigations
02/06/19 08:00 AM—Updated 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 Trump’s 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 can’t do them simultaneously, by the way,” he insisted. ‘Somebody says, ‘Oh, you can do ‘em both.’ No, you can’t. Because if they’re doing that, we’re not doing the other, just so you understand. So we won’t be doing that.”

In effect, Trump gave Democrats a choice between legislating and conducting oversight. Congress, in the president’s mind, could tackle substantive issues or it could examine his many scandals, but it couldn’t do both – because he wouldn’t allow it.

Early on in the president’s State of the Union address last night, Trump adopted a similar posture.

“An economic miracle is taking place in the United States – and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations.

“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t 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 president’s 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
February 6, 2019

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

February 6, 2019

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.html

Posted on Tue, Feb 5th, 2019 by Jason Easley
Democrats Laugh In Trump’s 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.

Trump said, “An economic miracle is taking place in the United States, and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way. We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad.”

https://twitter.com/politicususa/status/1092973632295456769
Trump didn’t 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 can’t comprehend that the best way to save the country is to investigate and potentially remove the corrupt president from office.
February 6, 2019

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


Playbook: “There was definitely a weird vibe. It seemed a tad bit emptier than usual. Just two Democrats sat on the aisle to greet the president. Democrats chatted during parts of the speech. They barely stood, even when the president rattled off statistics about the growing economy that would’ve, in other years, had both sides on their feet.”

“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 House’s investigations. Needless to say, it did not go over well.
February 6, 2019

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_0A3uGjvtGMR60OP2aNDbmW7jMZP8G5xE

President 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 Nixon’s 1974 State of the Union, President Trump called for an end of investigations into him during Tuesday night’s address.

“An economic miracle is taking place in the United States and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations,” Trump said during his State of the Union speech.

“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.

February 6, 2019

omg, he's still yapping, now

talking about abortion. Where are those damned figures of how many he paid for?

February 5, 2019

"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


“Finally a candidate who will actually put America First rather than Israel First!”

— David Duke, quoted by NBC News, seemingly endorsing Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) for president.
February 5, 2019

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

President Trump tweeted that he was prepared to build a “human wall” on the border if his request for funds is denied by Congress.

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.”
February 5, 2019

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.

February 5, 2019

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=home


Saudi Arabia Gave U.S. Weapons to al Qaeda-Linked Fighters: CNN
Reuters / Andreas Martinez

Saudi Arabia has given American-made weapons to al Qaeda-linked fighters, militant factions in Yemen, and possibly even Iranian-backed rebels, an investigation by CNN has found. The Saudis and their coalition partners are reportedly using the U.S. arms as a way to buy the loyalties of militias or tribes and influence the political landscape in Yemen. But giving military equipment to third parties is against the terms of Saudi Arabia’s arms deals with Washington, and a U.S. defense official confirmed to CNN that there is an investigation into the situation. CNN’s report comes as Congress, angered by the murder of Jamal Khashoggi last year, is mulling whether to challenge the Trump administration’s support for the Saudi coalition that relies on American weapons to conduct its war. Recipients of American weapons can’t give or sell the equipment to third parties without authorization from the U.S. government—that was never obtained.

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