and Chao's and his Chinese connections, while they're at it.

Remember this thread? (and more has come out since then, but I can never understand why it doesn't get more attention at least from Rachel, etc.)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211668442

Mitch McConnell and "The Chao Connection"
"...the Chao family had by far the most significant effect on McConnell’s personal life and career. Thanks to second wife Elaine and her family, McConnell became a millionaire many times over and forged ties with contacts at the highest echelons of Chinese government and business.

Elaine Chao’s father is shipping magnate, James Chao.
As McConnell’s acquaintance with Elaine Chao developed into a serious relationship, contributions began to pour into his campaign from the Chao family and their business associates. Their wedding ensured that the spigot was never turned off."

"Fast forward to 2018: McConnell retains his position as senate tyrant after the midterms; Elaine Chao is the Secretary of Transportation in Trump’s cabinet, and the Chao family maintains extensive contacts and business investments in China including a seat on the Board of the Bank of China which is partnered with the Russian VTB Bank that is part-owned by oligarch Oleg Deripaska who shares ownership in Rusal with Viktor Vekselberg whose business partner Len Blavatnik donated $3.5million to McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund.
It’s little wonder then that he’s blocked every bipartisan bill to protect the Special Counsel’s investigation."

"...It’s hardly surprising when you realise how enmeshed he is in corruption. He must be terrified of being caught — so the last person he’d want to protect is Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
This also explains why he was so aggressively opposed to President Obama going public with warnings regarding Russia’s attack on American democracy in 2016."

"Because the tyrant in charge of the senate isn’t just flawed, isn’t just inadequate to the enormity of the situation, he’s also corrupt. No honorable man would subject his fellow citizens to such privation and misery if he had the power to prevent it."

"Addison Mitchell McConnell is without conscience, without benevolence and without honor."

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/1/13/1825790/-McConnell-and-the-Agents-of-Power-and-Influence?utm_campaign=recent

Excellent breakdown of McTurtle's ties to Chinese and Russian oligarchs.

Seems to me like it isn't going to give the voting public much to go on as far as narrowing the field; not enough time to get into anything really substantive, but then that is often the case with debates.

I still like the candidates I liked and still don't like the ones I didn't. The ones who interrupt are obnoxious, and may well filter themselves out, but there are lot of candidates who are saying really good things and who are likable. It will be really interesting to see how this field gets narrowed down, but I really question if these debates help that process, other than weeding out the interrupters. That is if others also find that obnoxious.

Mostly my concern is if this will help the voters at all in making decisions. Seems there has to be a better way.

Curious to hear what your perspectives are.

Rachel read most of it just before the break and pointed out that they usually endorse Rs.
He's on now. Letters to editor:
At this point, 112 liked it. 108 didn't.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday reaffirmed a 170-year-old exception to the Constitution’s double-jeopardy clause, and left the door open for state prosecutors to prosecute Trump campaign officials regardless of whether federal officials have already done so. The case, Gamble v. United States, has drawn attention for its potential effect on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s federal prosecutions on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Had the “dual sovereignty doctrine” been repealed, states would not be able to pursue investigations parallel to the federal government, the National Law Journal reports. State prosecutors in New York have brought charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Jr., who was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, in the event that President Trump pardons him.

In the 7-2 majority decision, Justice Samuel Alito Jr. wrote that the separate sovereigns exception “honors the substantive differences between the interests that two sovereigns can have in punishing the same act.”


https://www.thedailybeast.com/scotus-reaffirms-double-jeopardy-exception-allowing-trump-campaign-officials-to-be-tried-by-state-feds?via=newsletter&source=CheatAMTest

Food and Water Watch was very involved with this. Just got an email from them today.

Happy to have some GOOD news!

https://www.thedailybeast.com/california-state-capitol-flies-lgbt-pride-flag-for-first-time-ever

https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1140655137192439808/photo/1
California raised the LGBT pride flag over its capitol building in Sacramento on Monday for the first time ever in the state’s history. “In California, we celebrate and support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community’s right to live out loud—during Pride month and every month,” Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said in a press release. “By flying the pride flag over the State Capitol, we send a clear message that California is welcoming and inclusive to all, regardless of how you identify or who you love.”

California joins Colorado and Wisconsin this year in raising the pride flag for the first time. The decision came after several U.S. embassies flew the flag in defiance of a new State Department policy requiring diplomats to get top-level permission to put them up. The flag will remain raised at the California capitol for the remainder of LGBTQ Pride Month, until July 1.

Finally they are giving it air time. I have been waiting a long time for this. I could never understand why even people like Rachel didn't give it more attention. Now if they would just report the part of the tape where Paul Ryan said let's keep that in the family after McCarthy said he thought Putin was paying Trump.

Maybe Trump's comments today about FBI/Russia will push this over the edge. I can hope...

Today the Oregon legislature passed National Popular Vote legislation -- an agreement between states to ensure that the national popular vote decides who wins in U.S. presidential elections.

The bill will now head to Governor Brown's desk for her signature.

Oregon will join 14 other states (and Washington, D.C.) that have already signed this agreement, representing a combined total of 189 Electoral College votes -- nearly 3/4ths of the Electoral College votes needed to put this reform into effect.
Americans generally assume that majority rules in choosing U.S. presidents, but as we’ve seen in multiple presidential elections -- including the most recent one -- it's possible to win the Electoral College vote without an actual majority of votes.

The National Popular Vote interstate compact provides a simple solution. States agree to allocate their electoral votes differently -- casting them for the winner of the national popular vote rather than state by state, winner-take-all. The compact will only take effect when enough states who together control a majority of Electoral College votes sign on.

The Oregon legislature passed the National Popular Vote bill through the House chamber today, having already passed it through the Senate chamber. It now goes to the governor for her signature.

From a Common Cause email today.


For anyone who would like some background, thanks to Pat k: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/

I'd seen many of these photos already, but there are also many I have never seen, even in Pete Souza's book.

No need to explain why it will make you both happy and sad.