The coup party's first nothingburger assignment

-- defund the IRS. They know how to waste taxpayers' money, not the least of which is on their salaries.

Hakeem Jeffries' Magnificent Speech To the 118th Congress, January 7 2023

(Full transcript in all caps by CSPAN)


DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, IT'S MY HIGH HONOR AND DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO FINALLY WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE 118TH CONGRESS.

LET ME JUST BEGIN BY THANKING MY GOOD FRIEND, PETE AGUILAR, FOR HIS VERY GENEROUS WORDS OF INTRODUCTION AND FOR PLACING MY NAME INTO NOMINATION, A TOTAL OF NINE TIMES. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY OTHER COLLEAGUES FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS FOR YOUR GENEROUS WORDS OF NOMINATION, AS WELL AS JIM CLYBURN, KATHERINE CLARK, TED LIEU, DEAN PHILLIPS, JOE NEGUSE, AND VERONICA ESCOBAR. AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND MY FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE, FOR YOUR STRENGTH, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND FOR YOUR UNANIMITY OF PURPOSE AND FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

I SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THAT SHOWING OF STRENGTH IS NOT FOR ANY ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. IT WILL BE A SHOWING OF STRENGTH THROUGHOUT THE 118TH CONGRESS, UNANIMITY OF PURPOSE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

BEFORE I PROCEED ANY FURTHER, LET ME BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLELADY FROM THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE ICONIC, THE HEROIC, LEGENDARY NANCY PELOSI. .. . . AND WITHOUT QUESTION IN MY MIND, SPEAKER EMERITA PELOSI WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE GREATEST SPEAKER OF ALL TIME.
THROUGHOUT HER TIME -- THROUGHOUT HER TIME IN CONGRESS, SHE'S BEEN A LEGENDARY LEGISLATOR, A FABULOUS FACILITATOR, AND A NO-NONSENSE NEGOTIATOR. WE KNOW THAT NANCY PELOSI IS A WOMAN OF FAITH, A LOVING WIFE, A MOTHER OF FIVE, A GRANDMOTHER OF NINE. A DEFENDERS OF DEMOCRACY. A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS. AND A POWERFUL CHAMPION FOR THE CHILDREN, THE CLIMATE, CHARM CITY, CALIFORNIA, THE CAUCUS, THE CONGRESS, THE COUNTRY, AND THE CONSTITUTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE, IT IS AN HONOR TO STAND ON YOUR BROAD SHOULDERS.

AS WELL -- AS WELL AS THE SHOULDERS OF THE GREAT STENY HOYER AND THE GREAT JIM CLYBURN, TWO CONSEQUENTIAL LEADERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

SCRIPTURE SAYS IN GALATIANS, LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME, WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, GETTING BIG THINGS DONE.

WE PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
SAVED THE ECONOMY FROM A DEEP RECESSION.
PUT SHOTS IN ARM, MONEY IN POCKETS AND KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.
WE PASSED THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. TO CREATE MILLIONS OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS. FIX OUR CRUMBLING BRIDGES, ROADS, TUNNELS, OUR AIRPORTS, OUR SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM, MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND ENSURE HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY.
WE PASSED GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS THAT WILL SAVE LIVES AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.
WE PASSED THE CHIPS IN SCIENCE ACT TO BRING DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING JOBS BACK HOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ENSURE THAT OUR WORK FORCE HAS THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY AND
WE PASSED THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO STRIKE A DRAMATIC BLOW AGAINST THE CLIMATE CRISIS, SET OUR PLANET ON A SUSTAINABLE TRAJECTORY FORWARD, LOWER ENERGY COSTS, STRENGTHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS AND DRIVE DOWN THE HIGH PRICE OF LIFE-SAVING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CONGRESSES IN AMERICAN HISTORY. PRESIDENT BIDEN GETS THE JOB DONE AND SO THE D IN DEMOCRAT STANDS FOR DELIVER.

SO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, OVER THE NEXT -- OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS -- AS WE BEGIN THIS 118TH CONGRESS, LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR LOWER COSTS. LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS FOR BETTER PAYING JOBS. LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES. LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY. LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS TO PUT AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTERESTS. LET US CONTINUE TO FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY SINGLE ZIP CODE AND LET US CONTINUE TO
FIGHT IN THIS CONGRESS FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

BECAUSE -- BECAUSE AS DEMOCRATS WE DO BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY FOR EVERYONE.
WE DO BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY FOR EVERYONE. A COUNTRY THAT
PROVIDES FOR THE POOR.
WORKS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
MAKES SENSE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.
STANDS UP FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
INNOVATES IN THE INNER CITY.
STRENGTHENS SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES,
HELPS OUT THE HEARTLAND AND
REVITALIZES RURAL AMERICA.

WE BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,
EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW,
FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND YES,
WE BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY WITH THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

WE BELIEVE -- THAT IN AMERICA OUR DIVERSITY IS A STRENGTH. IT IS NOT A WEAKNESS.
AN ECONOMIC STRENGTH, A COMPETITIVE STRENGTH, A CULTURAL STRENGTH.
OUR DIVERSITY IS A STRENGTH. IT IS NOT A WEAKNESS.

WE ARE A GORGEOUS MOSAIC OF PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AS JOHN LEWIS WOULD SOMETIMES REMIND US ON THIS FLOOR, WE MAY HAVE COME OVER ON DIFFERENT SHIPS BUT WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT NOW.
WE ARE WHITE, WE ARE BLACK, WE ARE LATINO, WE ARE ASIAN, WE ARE NATIVE AMERICAN,
WE ARE CHRISTIAN, WE ARE JEWISH, WE ARE MUSLIM, WE ARE HINDU,
WE ARE RELIGIOUS, WE ARE SECULAR,
WE ARE GAY, WE ARE STRAIGHT,
WE ARE YOUNG, WE ARE OLDER,
WE ARE WOMEN, WE ARE MEN, WE ARE CITIZENS, WE ARE DREAMERS,

OUT OF MANY WE ARE ONE.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMERICA A GREAT COUNTRY.
AND NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF HATERS ARE TRYING TO DIVIDE US, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO STAND UP HERE TODAY IS ANOTHER DATA POINT IN THAT NARRATIVE.
I WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN HOSPITAL, RAISED IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD IN CROWN HEIGHTS, GREW UP IN THE CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH. STARTED OFF IN THE CRADLE ROLL DEPARTMENT, SOMEHOW SURVIVED THE VIOLENCE OF THE CRACK COCAINE EPIDEMIC AND WOUND UP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AS THE HIGHEST RANKING DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AMERICA TRULY A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY. GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

SO ON THIS FIRST DAY, LET US COMMIT TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. A DREAM THAT PROMISES THAT IF YOU WORK HARD AND PLAY BY THE RULES, YOU SHOULD BE TABLE PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE LIVING FOR YOURSELF AND FOR YOUR FAMILY. EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN. PURCHASE A HOME. AND ONE DAY RETIRE WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY.

LET US COMMIT ON THIS FIRST DAY TO LIFT UP THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS NATION.

NOW I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A MOMENT OF TRANSITION.
AS WE TRANSITION FROM ONE CONGRESS TO THE NEXT, FROM ONE MAJORITY TO THE NEXT. FROM A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, A YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENT TO A YEAR OF AMBIGUITY. A MOMENT OF TRANSITION.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTANDABLY AFTER THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEK RECOGNIZE THAT THE CONGRESS IS AT A FORK IN THE ROAD. AND ARE ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT DIRECTION WILL WE CHOOSE?
ON THIS FIRST DAY, I DO NOT PRETEND TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. BUT WE DO EXTEND OUR HAND OF PARTNERSHIP TO YOU. AND WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE EXTEND AND INTEND TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND, WHENEVER AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NOT AS DEMOCRATS, NOT AS REPUBLICANS, NOT AS INDEPENDENTS, BUT AS AMERICANS.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE WILL NEVER COMPROMISE OUR PRINCIPLES. HOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL ALWAYS PUT
AMERICAN VALUES OVER AUTOCRACY.
BENEVOLENCE OVER BIGOTRY. THE
CONSTITUTION OVER THE CULT.
DEMOCRACY OVER DEMAGOGUES.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OVER EXTREMISM.
FREEDOM OVER FASCISM.
GOVERNING OVER GASLIGHTING.
HOPEFULNESS OVER HATRED.
INCLUSION OVER ISOLATION.
JUSTICE OVER JUDICIAL OVERREACH.
KNOWLEDGE OVER KANGAROO COURTS.
LIBERTY OVER LIMITATION.
MATURITY OVER MAR-A-LAGO.
NORMALCY OVER NEGATIVITY.
OPPORTUNITY OVER OBSTRUCTION.
PEOPLE OVER POLITICS.
QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES OVER Q-ANON.
REASON OVER RACISM.
SUBSTANCE OVER SLANDER.
TRIUMPH OVER TYRANNY.
UNDERSTANDING OVER UGLINESS.
VOTING RIGHTS OVER VOTER SUPPRESSION.
WORKING FAMILIES OVER THE WELL-CONNECTED.
XENNIAL OVER XENOPHOBIA.
YES WE CAN OVER YOU CAN NOT DO IT. AND
ZEALOUS REPRESENTATION OVER ZERO SUM CONFRONTATION

WE WILL ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SO LET US NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD. FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL REAP THE BENEFIT OF THE HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.
GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS THE HOUSE. AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

While we wait for the House to hopefully, finally, compose itself, a musical interlude...

The Treason Caucus, sworn in or not, will be indicted by Jack Smith.

These 11 House Republicans were at the White House "how-can-we-help" meeting with Trump on Dec 21 2020, according to the White House visitor logs obtained by the January 6 panel:

Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama
Rep. Brian Babin of Texas

Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona

Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland
Rep. Jody Hice of Georgia

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio
Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania

Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

These and perhaps 34 other congress people (who texted former congress person Mark Meadows) are still subjects of DOJ investigation. Congress people who the Jan 6 Committee knew to have information but who refused subpoenas are included above, along with Kevin McCarthy. When Jack Smith gets them before the DOJ's grand jury, that will be the reveal of their participation in Trump's Jan 6 schemes.

In the Jan 6 criminal referrals they are included in the "and others" language as having broken these laws:
Conspiracy to Defraud the US (18 U.S.C. sec 371),
Conspiracy to Make a False Statement (18. U.S.C. sec 1001),
"Incite," "Assist," or "Aid and Comfort" an Insurrection (18 U.S.C. sec 2383)

In general, Jack Smith can indict them under the 14th Amendment, Sec. 3:

“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress … who, having previously taken an oath … to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”


I choose to err on the side of Jack Smith:

While we wait for the House to compose itself, a musical interlude...

Here is the 54-member Freedom Caucus. 20 of them are insurrecting the 118th.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Second Anniversary of the January 6 Attack

Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a message of hope in his first wartime New Year address

All but two McCarthy defectors in House are election deniers

Source: Washington Post

The two Republicans voting against McCarthy who are not deniers are Chip Roy of Texas, the only returning member in the group who did not oppose the certification of President Biden’s victory; and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, a newcomer to the House.

The 14 returning election deniers who voted against McCarthy are: Andrew S. Clyde of Georgia; Paul A. Gosar and Andy Biggs of Arizona; Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds of Florida; Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Mary E. Miller (Ill.), Andy Harris (Md.), Matthew M. Rosendale (Mont.), Dan Bishop (N.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Michael Cloud (Tex.) and Bob Good (Va.).

The four newcomers who voted against McCarthy are Eli Crane (Ariz.), Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.) and Keith Self (Tex.).

Throughout the midterm election cycle, The Post identified candidates as election deniers if they questioned Biden’s 2020 victory, opposed the counting of his electoral college votes, expressed support for a partisan post-election ballot review, signed onto a lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 result, or attended or expressed support for the rally on the day of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/01/03/mccarthy-defectors-election-deniers/

Jack Smith returns to U.S. weeks after becoming Trump special counsel

Source: Washington Post

People familiar with Smith’s travels would not say when he arrived from Europe but said on Tuesday that he has been back in the country “for some time.” They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Justice Department had not officially announced Smith’s return.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment.

Officials have not announced who from within the Justice Department has been detailed to Smith’s team or if he has hired any outside prosecutors to work with him. But they have said many of the career agents and prosecutors already working on the Trump-related investigations would continue to do so for Smith’s office.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/03/jack-smith-returns-special-counsel-trump/