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kpete
kpete's Journal
kpete's Journal
December 19, 2017
List Of Republicans Senators Who Stand To Be Personally Enriched By Hatch Provision In GOP Tax Bill:
NEW REPORT: Here's a detailed list of every Republican senator who stands to be personally enriched by the real-estate provision slipped into the final bill by Sen. Orrin Hatch. It includes Hatch, and 13 other GOP senators. Enjoy
http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/republican-senators-will-save-millions-special-real-estate-tax-break-2630037
December 19, 2017
Robert Mueller Ascends Into Sky With Umbrella After Trump Family Promises They Learned Lesson About Honesty
WASHINGTON—Saying that each of them would always have a place in his heart, special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly ascended into the sky with an umbrella Monday after the Trump family promised they had learned their lesson about honesty. “And now, my dear friends, it is time for me to leave you,” said Mueller, opening the large umbrella he had pulled from his magical brief bag and slowly rising into the air as the Trump family tearfully waved goodbye and assured the special prosecutor that the valuable wisdom he had bestowed upon them through song and enchanted adventures would never be forgotten. “I must go and teach other little boys and girls about the importance of always telling the truth. Remember, Trump family: Honesty is the best policy.” At press time, the Trump family was reportedly making sure to cover up any evidence of having any knowledge or understanding about morals and consequences.
https://politics.theonion.com/robert-mueller-ascends-into-sky-with-umbrella-after-tru-1821395781?utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=SF&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMarketing
Mueller Ascends Into Sky With Umbrella After Trump Family Promises They Learned Lesson About Honesty
THE ONION:Robert Mueller Ascends Into Sky With Umbrella After Trump Family Promises They Learned Lesson About Honesty
WASHINGTON—Saying that each of them would always have a place in his heart, special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly ascended into the sky with an umbrella Monday after the Trump family promised they had learned their lesson about honesty. “And now, my dear friends, it is time for me to leave you,” said Mueller, opening the large umbrella he had pulled from his magical brief bag and slowly rising into the air as the Trump family tearfully waved goodbye and assured the special prosecutor that the valuable wisdom he had bestowed upon them through song and enchanted adventures would never be forgotten. “I must go and teach other little boys and girls about the importance of always telling the truth. Remember, Trump family: Honesty is the best policy.” At press time, the Trump family was reportedly making sure to cover up any evidence of having any knowledge or understanding about morals and consequences.
https://politics.theonion.com/robert-mueller-ascends-into-sky-with-umbrella-after-tru-1821395781?utm_content=Main&utm_campaign=SF&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMarketing
December 19, 2017
Graduates protested Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos during a commencement address at the University of Baltimore on Wednesday.
Students stood and turned away from DeVos during her speech, The Baltimore Sun reported.
One woman who stood had “#Not my commencement speaker” written on the back of her cap.
A faculty member on the stage also protested DeVos, and several graduates raised their fists.
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/942911394315456512
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/942980562377150464
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365483-university-of-baltimore-students-protest-devos-during-commencement
Students turn their back to Betsy DeVos during commencement speech
Graduates protested Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos during a commencement address at the University of Baltimore on Wednesday.
Students stood and turned away from DeVos during her speech, The Baltimore Sun reported.
One woman who stood had “#Not my commencement speaker” written on the back of her cap.
A faculty member on the stage also protested DeVos, and several graduates raised their fists.
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/942911394315456512
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/942980562377150464
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365483-university-of-baltimore-students-protest-devos-during-commencement
December 18, 2017
MUELLER HAS AN OUTLINE OF PLACES WHERE TRUMP WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED
Most importantly, consider what those morons laid out: they want to claim that these emails from the transition period — emails they insist were not government emails — are protected by Executive Privilege.
The legal claim is ridiculous; as I and far smarter people have noted, you don’t get Executive Privilege until you become the actual Executive on inauguration day.
But that they made the claim is telling (and really fucking stupid).
Because that tells us which emails Trump officials believe involve communications directly with Trump. The KT McFarland email, which we know was written from Mar-a-Lago, is a case in point. Did they withhold that because they believe it reflects a conversation with Trump? If so, then we know that Trump was personally involved in the orders to Mike Flynn to ask the Russians to hold off on retaliating for Obama’s sanctions. It might even mean that the language attributed to McFarland — about Russia being the key that unlocks doors, efforts to “discredit[] Trump’s victory by saying it was due to Russian interference, “thrown elections,” and Obama boxing Trump in — is actually Trump’s own language. Indeed, it does sound like stuff he says all the time.
And given that the emails include “speculation about vulnerabilities of Trump nominees, strategizing about press statements, and policy planning on everything from war to taxes,” it might even reflect Trump’s own explanations of why — for example — he couldn’t nominate Flynn to be CIA Director because of his ties to Russia and Turkey.
In the wake of his plea agreement, Flynn’s surrogate made it clear that Trump ordered him to carry out certain actions, especially with Russia. That’s likely a big reason why, in the wake of the Flynn plea, Trump’s people are now squawking that Mueller obtained these emails, emails that may lay out those orders.
Heck. These emails might even reflect Trump ordering Flynn to lie about his outreach to Russia.
Maybe that’s why Trump’s aides have promised to demand Mueller return the emails in question.
All of which is to say, there are things about these emails that explain why this attack is coming now, beyond just a generalized effort to discredit Mueller. The attack is designed to discredit specific avenues of investigation Mueller clearly has in hand. And those avenues reveal far more about the seriousness of the investigation than anything Ty Cobb is willing to claim to appease the President.
That said, the attack is probably too little, too late.
TONS MORE incl:
1) Trump's team may face obstruction charges for withholding material emails
2) Mueller has far more damning information on Jared than Trump's folks expected
https://www.emptywheel.net/2017/12/18/why-republicans-launched-the-gsa-email-attack-now/
Mueller has an outline of places where Trump was personally involved
https://twitter.com/emptywheel/status/942790341928906754MUELLER HAS AN OUTLINE OF PLACES WHERE TRUMP WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED
Most importantly, consider what those morons laid out: they want to claim that these emails from the transition period — emails they insist were not government emails — are protected by Executive Privilege.
The legal claim is ridiculous; as I and far smarter people have noted, you don’t get Executive Privilege until you become the actual Executive on inauguration day.
But that they made the claim is telling (and really fucking stupid).
Because that tells us which emails Trump officials believe involve communications directly with Trump. The KT McFarland email, which we know was written from Mar-a-Lago, is a case in point. Did they withhold that because they believe it reflects a conversation with Trump? If so, then we know that Trump was personally involved in the orders to Mike Flynn to ask the Russians to hold off on retaliating for Obama’s sanctions. It might even mean that the language attributed to McFarland — about Russia being the key that unlocks doors, efforts to “discredit[] Trump’s victory by saying it was due to Russian interference, “thrown elections,” and Obama boxing Trump in — is actually Trump’s own language. Indeed, it does sound like stuff he says all the time.
And given that the emails include “speculation about vulnerabilities of Trump nominees, strategizing about press statements, and policy planning on everything from war to taxes,” it might even reflect Trump’s own explanations of why — for example — he couldn’t nominate Flynn to be CIA Director because of his ties to Russia and Turkey.
In the wake of his plea agreement, Flynn’s surrogate made it clear that Trump ordered him to carry out certain actions, especially with Russia. That’s likely a big reason why, in the wake of the Flynn plea, Trump’s people are now squawking that Mueller obtained these emails, emails that may lay out those orders.
Heck. These emails might even reflect Trump ordering Flynn to lie about his outreach to Russia.
Maybe that’s why Trump’s aides have promised to demand Mueller return the emails in question.
All of which is to say, there are things about these emails that explain why this attack is coming now, beyond just a generalized effort to discredit Mueller. The attack is designed to discredit specific avenues of investigation Mueller clearly has in hand. And those avenues reveal far more about the seriousness of the investigation than anything Ty Cobb is willing to claim to appease the President.
That said, the attack is probably too little, too late.
TONS MORE incl:
1) Trump's team may face obstruction charges for withholding material emails
2) Mueller has far more damning information on Jared than Trump's folks expected
https://www.emptywheel.net/2017/12/18/why-republicans-launched-the-gsa-email-attack-now/
December 18, 2017
Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of far-right British group Britain First, saw her account suspended as part of a Twitter-wide crackdown on hate gorups.
In November, President Trump retweeted three videos from Fransen's account that purported to show Muslims committing acts of violence.
Fransen’s account, along with others connected to Britain First, now appear to be suspended.
Trump’s retweets prompted lawmakers in the U.S. and U.K. to speak out against Trump and Britain First, with several British lawmakers calling for his state visit to the country to be canceled.
...........
http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/technology/365412-britain-first-far-right-leader-suspended-from-twitter-in-hate
Twitter suspends far-right British figure retweeted by Trump
A far-right British activist who gained prominence after President Trump retweeted her anti-Muslim tweets in November had her Twitter account suspended on Monday as part of the social network’s effort to crack down on hate speech.Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of far-right British group Britain First, saw her account suspended as part of a Twitter-wide crackdown on hate gorups.
In November, President Trump retweeted three videos from Fransen's account that purported to show Muslims committing acts of violence.
Fransen’s account, along with others connected to Britain First, now appear to be suspended.
Trump’s retweets prompted lawmakers in the U.S. and U.K. to speak out against Trump and Britain First, with several British lawmakers calling for his state visit to the country to be canceled.
...........
http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/technology/365412-britain-first-far-right-leader-suspended-from-twitter-in-hate
December 18, 2017
Morning Joe: Millennials, you just had $1.5T stolen from you
VIDEO:
http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/gop-unveils-final-tax-bill-and-here-s-why-younger-americans-lose-1118793795721?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma
https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/942753104147120129
December 18, 2017
?1513551541
The simple fact is that they were caught off guard, something that has happened numerous times through this saga. Criminal investigation is in a way like a war. Within the law, it is part of the process that you want to keep the other side guessing as much as possible. But if you’ve watched the investigation closely, there have been numerous occasions when the Trump team appears to have been caught totally off guard by developments they likely should have had at least some inkling of. They’re upset because they didn’t do their homework on the legal status of those emails. As my friend Garance Franke-Ruta archly puts it, always read the terms of service!
One might speculate that Trump’s lawyers know they have no legal case here but are playing this up as part of a “Mueller’s out of control/breaking the law” narrative. It’s certainly being played that way on Fox. Certainly there’s some of that. But my guess is that they’re genuinely surprised. And since they’re surprised they assume Mueller cheated. (Is it possible Mueller did something wrong? Sure. Who knows? If so, I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough. But I doubt it. And none of the legal commentary I’ve seen suggests he did.) Beyond that, however, I suspect they now fear (no doubt rightly) that Trump officials lied during their interviews with the Special Counsel’s office and the investigators already had the emails that proved they were lying. That’s a real sinking feeling for everyone involved.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/that-sinking-feeling-2
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/17/1725394/-Panic-in-Email-Land
Panic in Email Land
That Sinking Feeling
I suspect they now fear (no doubt rightly) that Trump officials lied during their interviews with the Special Counsel’s office and the investigators already had the emails that proved they were lying.
?1513551541
The simple fact is that they were caught off guard, something that has happened numerous times through this saga. Criminal investigation is in a way like a war. Within the law, it is part of the process that you want to keep the other side guessing as much as possible. But if you’ve watched the investigation closely, there have been numerous occasions when the Trump team appears to have been caught totally off guard by developments they likely should have had at least some inkling of. They’re upset because they didn’t do their homework on the legal status of those emails. As my friend Garance Franke-Ruta archly puts it, always read the terms of service!
One might speculate that Trump’s lawyers know they have no legal case here but are playing this up as part of a “Mueller’s out of control/breaking the law” narrative. It’s certainly being played that way on Fox. Certainly there’s some of that. But my guess is that they’re genuinely surprised. And since they’re surprised they assume Mueller cheated. (Is it possible Mueller did something wrong? Sure. Who knows? If so, I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough. But I doubt it. And none of the legal commentary I’ve seen suggests he did.) Beyond that, however, I suspect they now fear (no doubt rightly) that Trump officials lied during their interviews with the Special Counsel’s office and the investigators already had the emails that proved they were lying. That’s a real sinking feeling for everyone involved.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/that-sinking-feeling-2
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/12/17/1725394/-Panic-in-Email-Land
December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/status/942745414071214081
Man who endorsed loser in Alabama Senate race claims he's undefeated.
Trump Tweet:
Remember, Republicans are 5-0 in Congressional Races this year. The media refuses to mention this. I said Gillespie and Moore would lose (for very different reasons), and they did. I also predicted “I” would win. Republicans will do well in 2018, very well!
https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/status/942745414071214081
?1513446003
Profile Information
Member since: Fri Sep 17, 2004, 03:59 PMNumber of posts: 71,991
