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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
January 3, 2020
Video of Trump Warning 'Our President Will Start a War With Iran..."
Published on Friday, January 03, 2020
by Common Dreams
Video of Trump Warning 'Our President Will Start a War With Iran Because He Has Absolutely No Ability to Negotiate' Resurfaces
"The only way he figures that he's going to get reelected—and as sure as you're sitting there—is to start a war with Iran," Trump said of Obama in 2011.
by Jake Johnson, staff writer
"He's weak and he's ineffective," then-private citizen Donald Trump said of former President Barack Obama in 2011. (Photo: Twitter/Screengrab)
Video footage of then-private citizen Donald Trump warning in 2011 that "our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate" resurfaced Thursday night after the U.S. assassinated Iran's top military leader and six others in a drone strike in Baghdad, sparking fears of a catastrophic regional and possibly global conflict.
Trump, of course, was referring to former President Barack Obama, who he called "weak and ineffective" and accused of attempting to start a war with Iran to boost his reelection chances.
"So the only way he figures that he's going to get reelected—and as sure as you're sitting there—is to start a war with Iran," Trump said at the time.
Obama went on to win reelection in 2012 without launching a war with Iran. In 2015, the U.S., Iran, and other major nations adopted the Iran nuclear agreement, which Trump effectively shredded last year.
Watch the clip, which Washington Post video editor J.M. Rieger tweeted Thursday night:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1212928617518419968
more...
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/03/video-trump-warning-our-president-will-start-war-iran-because-he-has-absolutely-no?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2rVeHdJi8aCQFnMHwPNqFVfQSdrb0belAk_k0NqYw0WjQa0S2v6gdfhIM
January 3, 2020
POLITICS 01/03/2020 03:21 am ET
Longtime Republican Strategist Rails Against What GOP Has Become Under Donald Trump
Mac Stipanovich said it “is so far from a shining city on the hill that it’s hard to remember that’s what we used to stand for.”
By Lee Moran
Florida GOP consultant and lobbyist Mac Stipanovich is the latest longtime Republican operative to lament what his party has become under President Donald Trump.
Stipanovich revealed he’d retired last month from the Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney law firm because of how his staunch opposition of Trump was offending “a substantial number of their clients.”
snip//
“I really don’t have a vision of a post-Trump era anymore. All I know is he’s got to go and then we’ll sort it out after that,” he said, later adding: “I find it sad, but at the same time, in a perverse way, I find it stimulating. It gives me something to focus on and do in this last chapter of my life, which is to oppose what the party I helped build has become.”
Longtime Republican Strategist Rails Against What GOP Has Become Under Donald Trump
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-under-donald-trump-mac-stipanovich_n_5e0eed02c5b6b5a713b85b29POLITICS 01/03/2020 03:21 am ET
Longtime Republican Strategist Rails Against What GOP Has Become Under Donald Trump
Mac Stipanovich said it “is so far from a shining city on the hill that it’s hard to remember that’s what we used to stand for.”
By Lee Moran
Florida GOP consultant and lobbyist Mac Stipanovich is the latest longtime Republican operative to lament what his party has become under President Donald Trump.
“I became a Republican in ’83 during the time of Ronald Reagan. Then, if you went into the booth and voted Republican, you had a good idea of what you were getting, even if you did not know the candidate,” the 71-year-old, known for his role in the election recount of 2000, said in an interview with the Florida Politics website published Thursday.
“The Trump party now is isolationist,” he noted. “It is protectionist. It is nativist. It is xenophobic. And it is so far from a shining city on the hill that it’s hard to remember that’s what we used to stand for — and I can’t stand it.”
“The Trump party now is isolationist,” he noted. “It is protectionist. It is nativist. It is xenophobic. And it is so far from a shining city on the hill that it’s hard to remember that’s what we used to stand for — and I can’t stand it.”
Stipanovich revealed he’d retired last month from the Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney law firm because of how his staunch opposition of Trump was offending “a substantial number of their clients.”
snip//
“I really don’t have a vision of a post-Trump era anymore. All I know is he’s got to go and then we’ll sort it out after that,” he said, later adding: “I find it sad, but at the same time, in a perverse way, I find it stimulating. It gives me something to focus on and do in this last chapter of my life, which is to oppose what the party I helped build has become.”
January 3, 2020
Iranian hometown response to Soleimani's death
Séamus Malekafzali
@Seamus_Malek
After a small initial gathering early this morning in Kerman, Qassem Soleimani's hometown, there is now a massive funeral crowd lining the streets, all wearing black.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1213039666519166976
January 3, 2020
Zachary Basu
11 mins ago
Republicans celebrate death of Qasem Soleimani
The Pentagon's confirmation Thursday night that Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian military commander and one of the regime's most powerful figures, was killed in airstrike ordered by President Trump set off immediate shock waves throughout Washington.
The big picture: Republican hawks like Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) celebrated the assassination of a designated terrorist whose activities in the Middle East have led to the deaths of hundreds of U.S. service members. Democrats, meanwhile, warned of the potentially destabilizing effects of the operation and demanded answers about the use of force without congressional authorization.
What they're saying:
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
Republicans celebrate death of Qasem Soleimani
https://www.axios.com/qassem-soleimani-death-reactions-iran-85bd4b62-85f4-4e29-a0ec-1e6376534f03.htmlZachary Basu
11 mins ago
Republicans celebrate death of Qasem Soleimani
The Pentagon's confirmation Thursday night that Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian military commander and one of the regime's most powerful figures, was killed in airstrike ordered by President Trump set off immediate shock waves throughout Washington.
The big picture: Republican hawks like Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) celebrated the assassination of a designated terrorist whose activities in the Middle East have led to the deaths of hundreds of U.S. service members. Democrats, meanwhile, warned of the potentially destabilizing effects of the operation and demanded answers about the use of force without congressional authorization.
What they're saying:
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.): "Soleimani was an enemy of the United States. That’s not a question. The question is this — as reports suggest, did America just assassinate, without any congressional authorization, the second most powerful person in Iran, knowingly setting off a potential massive regional war?"
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.): "Qassem Soleimani masterminded Iran’s reign of terror for decades, including the deaths of hundreds of Americans. Tonight, he got what he richly deserved, and all those American soldiers who died by his hand also got what they deserved: justice."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.): "Trump Admin owes a full explanation of airstrike reports—all the facts—to Congress&the American people. The present authorizations for use of military force in no way cover starting a possible new war. This step could bring the most consequential military confrontation in decades. My immediate concern is for our brave Americans serving in harm’s way."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) "Wow - the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically. Major blow to Iranian regime that has American blood on its hands. Soleimani was one of the most ruthless and vicious members of the Ayatollah's regime. He had American blood on his hands. I appreciate President Trump's bold action against Iranian aggression. To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more."
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): "This is very simple: General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered Americans. The President made the brave and right call, and Americans should be proud of our servicemembers who got the job done. Tehran is on edge - the mullahs have already slaughtered at least a thousand innocent Iranians - and before they lash out further they should know that the U.S. military can bring any and all of these IRGC butchers to their knees."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.): "The end of Qasem Soleimani is welcome and long-overdue justice for the thousands of Americans killed or wounded by his Iranian-controlled forces across the Middle East, and for the hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Iraqi Sunnis ethnically cleansed by his militias."
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.): "Qassem Soleimani was an evil and deadly terrorist with the blood of thousands, including hundreds of Americans, on his hands. President Trump was right to order decisive action to kill Soleimani to prevent further attacks and defend American lives and interests."
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.): "Qassem Soleimani masterminded Iran’s reign of terror for decades, including the deaths of hundreds of Americans. Tonight, he got what he richly deserved, and all those American soldiers who died by his hand also got what they deserved: justice."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.): "Trump Admin owes a full explanation of airstrike reports—all the facts—to Congress&the American people. The present authorizations for use of military force in no way cover starting a possible new war. This step could bring the most consequential military confrontation in decades. My immediate concern is for our brave Americans serving in harm’s way."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) "Wow - the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically. Major blow to Iranian regime that has American blood on its hands. Soleimani was one of the most ruthless and vicious members of the Ayatollah's regime. He had American blood on his hands. I appreciate President Trump's bold action against Iranian aggression. To the Iranian government: if you want more, you will get more."
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): "This is very simple: General Soleimani is dead because he was an evil bastard who murdered Americans. The President made the brave and right call, and Americans should be proud of our servicemembers who got the job done. Tehran is on edge - the mullahs have already slaughtered at least a thousand innocent Iranians - and before they lash out further they should know that the U.S. military can bring any and all of these IRGC butchers to their knees."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.): "The end of Qasem Soleimani is welcome and long-overdue justice for the thousands of Americans killed or wounded by his Iranian-controlled forces across the Middle East, and for the hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Iraqi Sunnis ethnically cleansed by his militias."
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.): "Qassem Soleimani was an evil and deadly terrorist with the blood of thousands, including hundreds of Americans, on his hands. President Trump was right to order decisive action to kill Soleimani to prevent further attacks and defend American lives and interests."
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
January 2, 2020
‘Somebody Should Go to the Slammer for This’: Legal Experts Shocked and Appalled by DOJ’s Ukraine Redactions
by Colin Kalmbacher | 2:31 pm, January 2nd, 2020
The Department of Justice (DOJ) redacted a series of emails previously provided to a government transparency group. The subject matter of those emails touched upon the issue at the heart of the current national impeachment drama: President Donald Trump’s withholding of congressionally-appropriated military aid to Ukraine.
Redactions in government-provided documentation, of course, come with the territory. They are typical, expected and typically rife. And such knowledge, once blacked-out with the federal censor’s pen, almost always stays walled off. But at least some of those redactions have now been uncovered.
Centrist legal blog Just Security revealed that many of those redactions, inserted at the behest of Attorney General Bill Barr’s DOJ, contained evidence that at least two executive branch agencies–the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)–and numerous officials were deeply aware of concerns that Trump’s aid withholding scheme violated the Impoundment Control Act.
News of those significant redactions broke early Thursday morning and Law&Crime has a lengthy write-up of the overall story here. The amount of information released, however, is somewhat dizzying and part of an increasingly complex story line. We turned to the experts for the upshot of this groundbreaking release.
Federal defense attorney and computer law expert Tor Ekeland was appalled.
In an email, Ekeland rubbished DOJ’s decision-making:
more...
https://lawandcrime.com/impeachment/somebody-should-go-to-the-slammer-for-this-legal-experts-shocked-and-appalled-by-dojs-ukraine-redactions/?fbclid=IwAR3Ee_NDPQJG8YDv4rHTK-sJsmCVge-G3KSjEl49EwOviZLNnrHR5hsJZrY
'Somebody Should Go to the Slammer for This'...
‘Somebody Should Go to the Slammer for This’: Legal Experts Shocked and Appalled by DOJ’s Ukraine Redactions
by Colin Kalmbacher | 2:31 pm, January 2nd, 2020
The Department of Justice (DOJ) redacted a series of emails previously provided to a government transparency group. The subject matter of those emails touched upon the issue at the heart of the current national impeachment drama: President Donald Trump’s withholding of congressionally-appropriated military aid to Ukraine.
Redactions in government-provided documentation, of course, come with the territory. They are typical, expected and typically rife. And such knowledge, once blacked-out with the federal censor’s pen, almost always stays walled off. But at least some of those redactions have now been uncovered.
Centrist legal blog Just Security revealed that many of those redactions, inserted at the behest of Attorney General Bill Barr’s DOJ, contained evidence that at least two executive branch agencies–the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)–and numerous officials were deeply aware of concerns that Trump’s aid withholding scheme violated the Impoundment Control Act.
News of those significant redactions broke early Thursday morning and Law&Crime has a lengthy write-up of the overall story here. The amount of information released, however, is somewhat dizzying and part of an increasingly complex story line. We turned to the experts for the upshot of this groundbreaking release.
Federal defense attorney and computer law expert Tor Ekeland was appalled.
In an email, Ekeland rubbished DOJ’s decision-making:
This is a mess. Did they provide a redaction log listing the basis for their redactions, e.g., privilege or word product or what not? You just don’t get to redact things willy nilly because you don’t want information that looks bad coming to public view. There might be cognizable privilege claims for redaction here, but when you try to ascertain what, you quickly get mired in the confusion and chaos of this administration. In order to claim privilege for redactions, you first need to be clear on who is claiming the privilege, and what privilege is being claimed. It’s not immediately clear from this romper room mess.
more...
https://lawandcrime.com/impeachment/somebody-should-go-to-the-slammer-for-this-legal-experts-shocked-and-appalled-by-dojs-ukraine-redactions/?fbclid=IwAR3Ee_NDPQJG8YDv4rHTK-sJsmCVge-G3KSjEl49EwOviZLNnrHR5hsJZrY
January 2, 2020
'Democrat' Dan Lipinski signs brief asking Supreme Court to 'revisit' Roe v. Wade
Hunter for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday January 02, 2020 · 3:00 PM EST
It seems 207 members of Congress, including 39 Republican senators, have filed an amicus brief asking that the Supreme Court revisit and potentially end abortion rights, including Roe v. Wade. That’s not hyperbole. In specific, the lawmakers claim an “unworkability” of the “right to abortion” found in Roe v. Wade. The brief:
That Republican lawmakers would ask the Supreme Court to undo the key decision establishing abortion as legal and ejecting, albeit not very well, theocrats and misogynists from the decision-making is not surprising. Republican lawmakers have defended and enabled the corruption of the Trump presidency precisely because stocking the court with justices who would do so was considered more consequential than any law breaking.
But the brief asks that Roe v. Wade contains a Democratic name, as well. Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski, a staunch abortion foe no matter what those in his own district desire, also signed the request. His name appears alongside those of Republican brothers such as Rep. Steve King, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, and Rep. Mark Meadows.
To unseat Lipinski and be rid of this conservative "Democrat" once and for all, please donate to his Democratic primary challenger, Marie Newman.
'Democrat' Dan Lipinski signs brief asking Supreme Court to 'revisit' Roe v. Wade
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/2/1909034/--Democrat-Dan-Lipinski-signs-brief-asking-Supreme-Court-to-revisit-Roe-v-Wade'Democrat' Dan Lipinski signs brief asking Supreme Court to 'revisit' Roe v. Wade
Hunter for Daily Kos
Daily Kos Staff
Thursday January 02, 2020 · 3:00 PM EST
It seems 207 members of Congress, including 39 Republican senators, have filed an amicus brief asking that the Supreme Court revisit and potentially end abortion rights, including Roe v. Wade. That’s not hyperbole. In specific, the lawmakers claim an “unworkability” of the “right to abortion” found in Roe v. Wade. The brief:
[...] respectfully suggest[s] that the Fifth Circuit’s struggle to define the appropriate “large fraction” or determine what “burden” on abortion access is “undue” illustrates the unworkability of the “right to abortion” found in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) and the need for the Court to again take up the issue of whether Roe and Casey should be reconsidered and, if appropriate, overruled.
That Republican lawmakers would ask the Supreme Court to undo the key decision establishing abortion as legal and ejecting, albeit not very well, theocrats and misogynists from the decision-making is not surprising. Republican lawmakers have defended and enabled the corruption of the Trump presidency precisely because stocking the court with justices who would do so was considered more consequential than any law breaking.
But the brief asks that Roe v. Wade contains a Democratic name, as well. Illinois Rep. Daniel Lipinski, a staunch abortion foe no matter what those in his own district desire, also signed the request. His name appears alongside those of Republican brothers such as Rep. Steve King, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, and Rep. Mark Meadows.
To unseat Lipinski and be rid of this conservative "Democrat" once and for all, please donate to his Democratic primary challenger, Marie Newman.
January 2, 2020
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/01/ivanka-trump-jared-presidential-delegationdavos-092374?fbclid=IwAR0AqGLEXR6tnQDrpR8_tBjOhse7Qbiu3oU1aNuFOaqt7LItC0YAqyb3hN0
Ivanka and Jared included in presidential delegation to Davos
Critics have repeatedly questioned Kushner and Ivanka Trump's role in shaping the administration's financial and foreign policy.
By MATTHEW CHOI
01/01/2020 07:35 PM EST
President Donald Trump on Wednesday named his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner to the official White House delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Ivanka Trump and Kushner serve as assistants and advisers to the president and have accompanied the senior Trump on numerous official appearances. Several Cabinet secretaries will also be in the Davos delegation, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Keith Krach, undersecretary of State, and Christopher Liddell, assistant to the president, will also be there Jan. 20-24.
Critics have repeatedly questioned Kushner and Ivanka Trump's role in shaping the administration's financial and foreign policy.
Ivanka Trump was the subject of a social media frenzy over the summer when the French Elysée palace released a video clip of the first daughter trying to engage in a conversation with world leaders at the G-20 summit in Japan, including then-British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Lagarde's perplexed facial reaction to Ivanka Trump's comments, as well as Ivanka Trump's own body language, prompted memes and commentary that the first daughter appeared wildly out of place in the setting.
The French presidency later said it posted the video because Ivanka Trump was a keynote speaker on a session on gender equity. Still, the Elysée acknowledged there was "a larger narrative in the U.S. about Ivanka’s diplomatic role and that goes beyond us, of course."
The Trump administration canceled its appearance at Davos last year owing to an ongoing government shutdown over border wall funding.
Ivanka and Jared included in presidential delegation to Davos
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/01/ivanka-trump-jared-presidential-delegationdavos-092374?fbclid=IwAR0AqGLEXR6tnQDrpR8_tBjOhse7Qbiu3oU1aNuFOaqt7LItC0YAqyb3hN0
Ivanka and Jared included in presidential delegation to Davos
Critics have repeatedly questioned Kushner and Ivanka Trump's role in shaping the administration's financial and foreign policy.
By MATTHEW CHOI
01/01/2020 07:35 PM EST
President Donald Trump on Wednesday named his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner to the official White House delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Ivanka Trump and Kushner serve as assistants and advisers to the president and have accompanied the senior Trump on numerous official appearances. Several Cabinet secretaries will also be in the Davos delegation, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Keith Krach, undersecretary of State, and Christopher Liddell, assistant to the president, will also be there Jan. 20-24.
Critics have repeatedly questioned Kushner and Ivanka Trump's role in shaping the administration's financial and foreign policy.
Ivanka Trump was the subject of a social media frenzy over the summer when the French Elysée palace released a video clip of the first daughter trying to engage in a conversation with world leaders at the G-20 summit in Japan, including then-British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Lagarde's perplexed facial reaction to Ivanka Trump's comments, as well as Ivanka Trump's own body language, prompted memes and commentary that the first daughter appeared wildly out of place in the setting.
The French presidency later said it posted the video because Ivanka Trump was a keynote speaker on a session on gender equity. Still, the Elysée acknowledged there was "a larger narrative in the U.S. about Ivanka’s diplomatic role and that goes beyond us, of course."
The Trump administration canceled its appearance at Davos last year owing to an ongoing government shutdown over border wall funding.
January 1, 2020
Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, suggested he’d lead the president’s defense with a prosecution.
I don’t know if I’d be any good at it, or if anyone is crazy enough to give me the case, but I would love to be Trump’s impeachment trial lawyer is not exactly the most convincing sales pitch that one could hear.
If there is one person who could get Donald Trump convicted at a rigged impeachment trial, it’s Rudy Giuliani.
It would be fascinating and fun to see Rudy Giuliani hijack the Senate for weeks and ramble insane conspiracy theories, as Mitch McConnell loses his mind over Rudy dragging out the trial for days, weeks, or even months.
Trump is not going to allow Giuliani to be his impeachment trial lawyer, but the fact that it is even a possibility suggests that 2020 could be even crazier than 2019.
Rudy Giuliani Begs To Be Trump's Impeachment Trial Lawyer
Oh please, oh please, oh please 
https://www.politicususa.com/2020/01/01/rudy-giuliani-begs-to-be-trumps-impeachment-trial-lawyer.html
Posted on Wed, Jan 1st, 2020 by Jason Easley
Rudy Giuliani Begs To Be Trump’s Impeachment Trial Lawyer
Rudy Giuliani is daring Donald Trump to give him the case and allow him to argue in Trump’s defense at the president’s impeachment trial.
NBC News reported:
“I would testify, I would do demonstrations, I’d give lectures, I’d give summations, or I’d do what I do best, I’d try the case. I’d love to try the case,” Giuliani told reporters as he made his way into a New Year’s Eve celebration at the president’s Florida resort on Tuesday night.
Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, suggested he’d lead the president’s defense with a prosecution.
“I don’t know if anybody would have the courage to give me the case, but if you give me the case, I will prosecute it as a racketeering case, which I kind of invented anyway,” he said, referring to his pioneering use of racketeering laws to take down New York mob leadership in the 1980s.
“It was 30 years ago, but let’s see if I can still do it,” he said.
“It was 30 years ago, but let’s see if I can still do it,” he said.
I don’t know if I’d be any good at it, or if anyone is crazy enough to give me the case, but I would love to be Trump’s impeachment trial lawyer is not exactly the most convincing sales pitch that one could hear.
If there is one person who could get Donald Trump convicted at a rigged impeachment trial, it’s Rudy Giuliani.
It would be fascinating and fun to see Rudy Giuliani hijack the Senate for weeks and ramble insane conspiracy theories, as Mitch McConnell loses his mind over Rudy dragging out the trial for days, weeks, or even months.
Trump is not going to allow Giuliani to be his impeachment trial lawyer, but the fact that it is even a possibility suggests that 2020 could be even crazier than 2019.
January 1, 2020
Jacob Knutson
22 mins ago
Chief Justice Roberts says Americans may "take democracy for granted"
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned that Americans may "take democracy for granted" in his annual year-end message published Tuesday.
Why it matters: The statement about the power of online misinformation, coupled with Roberts' assertion of the federal judiciary's independence throughout the message, reads as a mission statement ahead of President Trump's Senate impeachment trial — over which the chief justice will preside.
Flashback:
Chief Justice Roberts says Americans may "take democracy for granted"
https://www.axios.com/chief-justice-john-roberts-americans-democracy-granted-3f521c33-2881-4ba2-a05e-ce8ce061d542.htmlJacob Knutson
22 mins ago
Chief Justice Roberts says Americans may "take democracy for granted"
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned that Americans may "take democracy for granted" in his annual year-end message published Tuesday.
"[W]e have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public’s need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital."
Why it matters: The statement about the power of online misinformation, coupled with Roberts' assertion of the federal judiciary's independence throughout the message, reads as a mission statement ahead of President Trump's Senate impeachment trial — over which the chief justice will preside.
"We should reflect on our duty to judge without fear or favor, deciding each matter with humility, integrity, and dispatch."
"As the New Year begins, and we turn to the tasks before us, we should each resolve to do our best to maintain the public’s trust that we are faithfully discharging our solemn obligation to equal justice under law.”
"As the New Year begins, and we turn to the tasks before us, we should each resolve to do our best to maintain the public’s trust that we are faithfully discharging our solemn obligation to equal justice under law.”
Flashback:
Roberts and Trump disagreed about the independence of the federal judiciary back in 2018 after the president criticized judges who ruled against his administration, calling them "Obama judges."
That prompted Roberts to issue a rare public critique aimed at the president, saying the U.S. doesn't have "Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges."
That prompted Roberts to issue a rare public critique aimed at the president, saying the U.S. doesn't have "Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges."
January 1, 2020
Life Awaits By Connie Schultz
January 1, 2020 5 min read
On Dec. 29, I became one day older than my mother on the day she died.
I did not go to bed until I could say this out loud.
At the stroke of midnight, I turned to my husband and said, "Today—"
He finished my sentence, in the softest tone. "You have outlived your mother," Sherrod said. "Here's to many years to come."
snip//
We are embarking on the 2020 campaign year, which will be the worst we've experienced because the man running for reelection is the most dangerous president in American history. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic because most people love this country more than Trump, including you.
None of us knows how much time we have on this earth, but each of us gets to decide how we will use what's left of it.
I have now lived three days longer than my mother on the day she died. Every day is a gift, and just like you, I have to figure out how best to use it.
We're alive, my friends. Happy New Year.
Life Awaits By Connie Schultz
https://www.creators.com/read/connie-schultz/01/20/life-awaits?fbclid=IwAR2BGj3wgBEtNRPm_3x3pn_X7d5tXtoBbsd_BONHZeQd12hyLY2687FP_AILife Awaits By Connie Schultz
January 1, 2020 5 min read
On Dec. 29, I became one day older than my mother on the day she died.
I did not go to bed until I could say this out loud.
At the stroke of midnight, I turned to my husband and said, "Today—"
He finished my sentence, in the softest tone. "You have outlived your mother," Sherrod said. "Here's to many years to come."
snip//
We are embarking on the 2020 campaign year, which will be the worst we've experienced because the man running for reelection is the most dangerous president in American history. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic because most people love this country more than Trump, including you.
None of us knows how much time we have on this earth, but each of us gets to decide how we will use what's left of it.
I have now lived three days longer than my mother on the day she died. Every day is a gift, and just like you, I have to figure out how best to use it.
We're alive, my friends. Happy New Year.
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