Ben Carson Says People Pushed Out of Windows Get Unique Opportunity to Fly Through Air (Borowitz)

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, told reporters that people who are pushed out of windows are “extremely lucky” because they get “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly through the air.”

“Ever since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been enchanted by the dream of flight,” Carson said. “People who get pushed out of windows get to realize that cherished dream.”

“That’s what makes America a great country,” he continued. “People are pushed out of windows every day here.”

Carson said that, while he had never personally been pushed out of a window, “it’s on my bucket list.”

On a subject more pertinent to his new job at HUD, Carson said that people without housing “enjoy the rare satisfaction you can only experience by building your own dwelling out of cardboard.”

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/ben-carson-says-people-pushed-out-of-windows-get-unique-opportunity-to-fly-through-air?mbid=nl_170307_Borowitz&CNDID=49083371&spMailingID=10573917&spUserID=MTgzMjI2MTM1NTc2S0&spJobID=1120586644&spReportId=MTEyMDU4NjY0NAS2

Trump Nominee For Deputy AG Post Open To Appointing Special Counsel In Russia Probe

WASHINGTON ― Several Senate Democrats on Tuesday backed a longtime federal prosecutor nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the No. 2 position in the Justice Department, where he’d oversee the federal investigation into connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Rod Rosenstein, currently the top federal prosecutor in Maryland, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday morning he is open to appointing a special counsel to investigate Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election if necessary.

“I’m willing to appoint a special counsel ... whenever I determine that it’s appropriate based upon the policies and procedures of the Justice Department,” Rosenstein told the committee.

However, he didn’t commit to appointing a special counsel and said, at this point, he didn’t see a specific reason he couldn’t oversee such an investigation.

snip

Still, many Democrats had questions for Rosenstein about how he’d handle the ongoing Russia investigation. Saying political affiliation was “irrelevant” to his work, Rosenstein told the committee that he would ensure there were independent prosecutors conducting any investigation, including the Russia probe.

snip

Rosenstein, who said he had not had any conversations with Sessions about the Russia issue, said he is not yet in a position to decide whether a special prosecutor is necessary. But Rosenstein said he’d be willing to appoint a special counsel if necessary, based on the procedures at the Justice Department.

“If it’s America against Russia or America against any other country, I think everyone in this room knows which side I’m on,” Rosenstein said during the hearing.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said she believes a special prosecutor is necessary. “There is a real danger, I believe, that the Department of Justice could become politicized,” Feinstein said.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rod-rosenstein-trump-doj-russia_us_58bdb60be4b09ab537d588a3?section=us_politics

Reposting this because we all need something encouraging about how the world sees America right now

I was just reading the thread about people being embarrassed for America and how we appear to the rest of the world, and remembered this from the airport protests:

An Iraqi's feelings on the protests in America goes viral—this is what Americans are fighting for:
The protests and marches, the phone calls and visits to elected officials’ offices, are sometimes motivated by anger and frustration but always filled with one underlying fundamental truth—we love our country and what our country is supposed to be. Our country is a place where even fascistic-minded jerks can live freely, as long as they don’t hurt others. With our new orange-regime spewing out bile-filled foreign policy notices around the world, the resistance to neo-American fascism and white supremacy has gone into high gear—women’s marches have emboldened the airport protests and so on. It is not only the citizens and elected officials within the United States that have taken notice, millions—if not billions— around the world are watching what is happening in North America. TechCrunch senior editor John Shieber tweeted out something from a friend of his who works for the UN in Iraq:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/2/2/1629034/-An-Iraqi-s-feelings-on-the-protests-in-America-goes-viral-this-is-what-Americans-are-fighting-for

And this:

The story behind the viral photo of Muslim and Jewish children protesting at O'Hare

A Muslim and a Jewish father had never met before bringing their children to O'Hare International Airport Monday to join in a protest of President Donald Trump's immigration ban. But after a photograph showing their son and daughter interacting went viral, they decided to bring their families together next week for dinner to celebrate peace.

As of midday Tuesday, the photograph taken by Chicago Tribune photographer Nuccio DiNuzzo and shared on Twitter by @ChiTribPhoto had been retweeted by other Twitter users more than 16,000 times. The two fathers said they have fielded calls from friends, acquaintances and national news outlets wanting to hear their story.

"It all happened pretty quickly," said Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, of Deerfield, who lifted his 9-year-old son, Adin, onto his shoulders Monday night when the boy asked for a better view of the crowd there to protest Trump's executive order that freezes entry of all refugees for 120 days and blocks entry for 90 days of citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

At about the same time, Fatih Yildirim had lifted his 7-year-old daughter, Meryem, onto his shoulders because she was getting tired of standing.

Adin was wearing his kippah, or yarmulke, while holding a sign that read "Hate has no home here." Meryem wore her black hijab while holding a sign that said "Love."

More- read it! It will make you feel good - promise:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jewish-muslim-fathers-viral-photo-met-20170131-story.html

I couldn't get the photo to post. If someone else can, please post in a reply.

Rod Rosenstein: 'honorable' US attorney poised to be next Russia investigator (Guardian)

Monday 6 March 2017 07.00 EST
Last modified on Monday 6 March 2017 12.02 EST

As a young justice department lawyer, Rod Rosenstein was tapped to join Kenneth Starr’s Whitewater investigation into Bill and Hillary Clinton’s real estate dealings. He showed an uncommon skill with public corruption cases, demonstrating a wisdom and sensitivity beyond his years, his supervisors said.

Snip

Sessions’ recusal could immediately put Rosenstein into a much higher-profile position than he might have imagined when he was nominated to serve as deputy attorney general. If confirmed, he would oversee any justice department investigation into Russian interference in the election – including any contacts between Russia and members of the Trump campaign.

Rosenstein, who is currently the US attorney in Maryland, was a surprising choice to serve as the No 2 official in Trump’s justice department, said Philip Heymann, who was Rosenstein’s law professor at Harvard, and later his boss in the Clinton justice department. Rosenstein has served in the Department of Justice for 26 years, including in the tax division, the public integrity section, and as an assistant US attorney in Maryland.

Rosenstein is a skilled prosecutor and “a straight shooter”, with a deep knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the department, but he did not seem particularly close to either Sessions or Trump, Heymann said.

“It surprises me that they didn’t pick somebody who was more partisan,” he said.

James Cole, who served for four years as Eric Holder’s deputy attorney general, also offered unqualified praise for Rosenstein’s skill and credibility.

Snip

In February, the Baltimore Sun, Rosenstein’s hometown paper, called him an “honorable” public servant with “wide bipartisan support” who was too good to sell his soul by taking a job in the Trump administration.

“Just don’t go there. Say ‘no’ to President Trump,” a member of the Sun’s editorial board advised Rosenstein in an open letter.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/06/rod-rosenstein-deputy-attorney-general-russia-jeff-sessions?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=216202&subid=20993289&CMP=GT_US_collection

Are people overlooking this in Comey asking DOJ to refute TRump Obama wiretap claim?

Haven't seen any discussion on this in DU Comey/Obama wiretop threads. DOJ might not be responding until someone replaces Sessions in Russia investigation. Don't know if Dana Boente can respond?

"Staffing issues in the upper ranks of the department stalled Comey’s request, per the Times:

“One problem Mr. Comey has faced is that there are few senior politically appointed officials at the Justice Department who can make the decision to release a statement, the officials said. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself on Thursday from all matters related to the federal investigation into connections between Mr. Trump, his associates and Russia."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fbi-james-comey-trump-wiretapping_us_58bc8548e4b0d2821b4edb91?10xp9z7s0y4eoecdi&&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Morning%20Email%20030617&utm_content=The%20Morning%20Email%20030617+CID_3cafe51a0841b95bb5906896ece21ab8&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=asked%20the%20Justice%20Department&

ACLU legal director live now talking constitutional issues; how they & we can fight Trump agenda

Watch ACLU Legal Director David Cole Live Mon: how we will protect civil liberties under Trump

Hear a special message from ACLU National Legal Director David Cole on Monday, March 6. David is the constitutional expert who oversees the ACLU’s army of nearly 300 lawyers.

He’ll give us a preview of how we can defeat Trump’s incursions into our civil liberties, and talk about his hopes for our People Power movement. If you’re interested, sign up to say you’ll watch the stream at 1pm ET / 10am PT on Monday.

Sign up here:
https://go.peoplepower.org/signup/david-cole/?source=em20170305-pp&t=2&akid=915.64457.URWxlJ

NYT: Who replaces AG after recusal; can special counsel be appointed, by whom & limits of power

Jeff Sessions Has Stepped Aside on Russia. Here’s Who Could Step In.

By CHARLIE SAVAGEMARCH 2, 2017

snip

Who replaces the attorney general after a recusal?

The deputy attorney general steps into the shoes of the attorney general to make decisions about that particular investigation. The acting deputy attorney general is Dana J. Boente, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, whom Mr. Trump temporarily elevated last month after firing Sally Q. Yates, who had been the deputy attorney general. Mr. Trump has nominated Rod J. Rosenstein, the United States attorney for Maryland, to be deputy attorney general, and he would replace Mr. Boente if confirmed.

Can a special prosecutor or an independent counsel be appointed?

No, because the law that created that type of prosecutor expired.

During the Watergate “Saturday Night Massacre,” President Richard M. Nixon ordered the firing of the prosecutor running the investigation into his White House. As part of the reforms afterward, Congress created a new type of prosecutor to look into high-level executive branch wrongdoing while shielded from political interference. This position was called a special prosecutor at first and later independent counsel. The law set criteria for an attorney general to request a three-judge panel to appoint such a prosecutor, who would be subject to the judges’ supervision and could not be fired by the president or his appointees.

While the Supreme Court upheld the arrangement as constitutional, critics said it permitted a prosecutor to run amok. Republicans learned to hate the arrangement during the Iran-contra investigation into the Reagan administration, and Democrats did during the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigation into President Bill Clinton. When the law expired in 1999, Congress did not renew it.

Could there instead be a special counsel?

Yes, Mr. Boente could appoint one of these.

Special counsels are empowered to run an investigation with greater autonomy than a United States attorney normally enjoys. But they are still ultimately subject to the control of the attorney general — and the president — who can overrule their decisions or fire them. This position dates to 1999, when the Justice Department issued new regulations to create it after the independent counsel law expired.

The regulations say special counsels “shall not be subject to the day-to-day supervision of any official of the department” and generally decide on their own “whether and to what extent to inform or consult with the attorney general or others within the department about the conduct of his or her duties and responsibilities.”

More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/02/us/politics/russia-sessions-attorney-general.html?emc=edit_nn_20170305&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=67712298&te=1

CNN: Trump extremely angry & frustrated at senior staff, communications team over Sessions fallout

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump is extremely frustrated with his senior staff and communications team for allowing the firestorm surrounding Attorney General Jeff Sessions to steal his thunder in the wake of his address to Congress, sources tell CNN.

"Nobody has seen him that upset," one source said, adding the feeling was the communications team allowed the Sessions news, which the administration deemed a nonstory, to overtake the narrative.

snip

When the President returned to the White House Thursday evening from a day trip to Virginia, there were "a lot of expletives." The source said for more than a week Trump had been lamenting that his senior staff "just keep getting in their own way."

"The President had a fantastic week advancing his agenda to lift up all Americans and keep the nation safe. His joint session speech will go down in history as one of the best," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in response to CNN's reporting.

The President is showing increasing flashes of anger over the performance of his senior staff and daily developments about Russia overshadowing his message, multiple people inside the White House and outside the administration told CNN.

Trump voiced his frustration to his inner circle in the Oval Office Friday, sources said. He feels attacked by the media, former Obama administration officials and others, and frustrated that things are not going more smoothly. The President expressed his anger at non-stop leaks undermining his administration, the sources said.

Snip

Trump is upset because he doesn't believe he is getting credit he thinks he deserves for his time office so far because of self-inflicted wounds and missteps, the source said. An informed presidential ally outside government but close to the President said Trump was really angry about having a "mini disaster" a week. The President's mood is adding to tremendous pressure inside the West Wing and aides have been seen in tears in recent days at multiple meetings.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/04/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions-reince-priebus/index.html

SNL live tonight! Host Octavia Spencer. Promo videos, details here:

Who is Hosting SNL Tonight? Octavia Spencer!

After a couple of weeks off, Saturday Night Live is back and live. Hosting this week’s episode is Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. It’s Spencer’s first time hosting and although she’s best known for her critically acclaimed dramatic roles in movies like The Help, and Hidden Figures, she isn’t a stranger to comedy. She starred in Comedy Central’s Halfway Home, and the ABC series Ugly Betty, and has had comedic guest roles in a number of television shows.

Despite having some career high moments already- Spencer has described her gig hosting SNL as one of the most exciting moments of her career, and says that America is going to be be “blown away” by what’s in store this week.

SNL has a lot of ground to cover this week. Last week’s Academy Awards Best Picture Award fiasco is likely to come up, particularly with an Oscar-winning actress hosting. There’s also Trump’s address to Congress to cover. Saturday Night Live is enjoying a ratings high this season– the highest ratings in two decades– and we’re expecting to see the show come out of the break with a bang.