Monthly Archives: September 2019

Impeachment: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) – “Tell your people to obey the law.”

25 Wednesday Sep 2019

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Last night:

Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi
The times have found us.
[….]
7:12 PM · Sep 24, 2019

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D) remarks:

Pelosi Remarks Announcing Impeachment Inquiry
September 24, 2019 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. Below are the Speaker’s remarks as delivered:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon. Last Tuesday, we observed the anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution on September 17.

Sadly, on that day, the Intelligence Community Inspector General formally notified the Congress that the Administration was forbidding him from turning over a whistleblower complaint. On Constitution Day. This is a violation of law.

Shortly thereafter, press reports began to break of a phone call by the President of the United States calling upon a foreign power to intervene in his election. This is a breach of his constitutional responsibilities.

The facts are these: the Intelligence Community Inspector General, who was appointed by President Trump, determined that the complaint is both of ‘urgent concern and credible,’ and its disclosure, he went on to say, that it ‘relates to one of the most significant and important of the Director of National Intelligence’s responsibilities to the American people.’

On Thursday, the Inspector General testified before the House Intelligence Committee, stating that the Acting Director of National Intelligence blocked him from disclosing the whistleblower complaint. This is a violation of the law.

The law is unequivocal. The DNI, it says, the Director of National Intelligence ‘shall’ provide Congress the full whistleblower complaint.

For more than 25 years, I have served on the Intelligence Committee – as a Member, as the Ranking Member, as part of the Gang of 4 even before I was in the Leadership.

I was there when we created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. That did not exist before 2004.

I was there ever earlier in 90’s when we wrote the whistleblower laws and continue to write them, to improve them to ensure the security of our intelligence and the safety of our whistleblowers.

I know what their purpose was, and we proceeded with balance and caution as we wrote the laws. I can say with authority, that the Trump Administration’s actions undermine both: our national security and our intelligence and our protections of whistleblowers – more than both.

This Thursday, the Acting DNI will appear before the House Intelligence Committee.

At that time, he must turn over the whistleblower’s full complaint to the Committee. He will have to choose whether to break the law or honor his responsibility to the Constitution.

On the final day of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when our Constitution was adopted, Americans gathered on the steps of Independence Hall to await the news of the government our Founders had crafted.

They asked Benjamin Franklin, ‘What do we have: a republic or a monarchy?’ Franklin replied: ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’

Our responsibility is to keep it.

Our republic endures because of the wisdom of our Constitution, enshrined in three co-equal branches of government, serving as checks and balances on each other.

The actions taken to date by the President have seriously violated the Constitution – especially when the President says, ‘Article II says, I can do whatever I want.’

For the past several months, we have been investigating in our Committees and litigating in the courts, so the House can gather ‘all the relevant facts and consider whether to exercise its full Article I powers, including a constitutional power of the utmost gravity — approval of articles of impeachment.’

And this week, the President has admitted to asking the President of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically. The action of – the actions of the Trump Presidency revealed the dishonorable fact of the President’s betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections.

Therefore, today, I am announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I am directing our six Committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella of impeachment inquiry.

The President must be held accountable. No one is above the law.

Getting back to our Founders – in the darkest days of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine wrote: ‘The times have found us.’ The times found them to fight for and establish our democracy. The times have found us today, not to place ourselves in the same category of greatness as our Founders, but to place us in the urgency of protecting and defending our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. In the words of Ben Franklin, to keep our Republic.

I thank our Chairmen – Chairman Nadler, Chairman Schiff. Chairman Nadler of Judiciary. Chairman Schiff of Intelligence. Chairman Engel of Foreign Affairs. Chairman Cummings of Oversight and Chairman Cummings I have been in touch with constantly. He is a master of so much but including, Inspectors General and whistleblowers. Congressman Richie Neal of the Ways and Means Committee. Congresswomen Maxine Waters of the Financial Services Committee.

And I commend all of our Members, our colleagues for their thoughtful, thoughtful approach to all of this – for their careful statements.

God bless them and God Bless America. Thank you all.

Also last night:

Heidi Przybyla @HeidiNBC
The exact words I was given were that Trump said he’d like to “figure this out.”
Pelosi said: “Tell your people to obey the law.”
[….]
5:58 PM · Sep 24, 2019

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

The times have found us.

#NationalSecurity

#ImpeachTheMF

Previously:

Impeachment: Consciousness of Guilt (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) (September 24, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): gaslighting (September 24, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): gaslighting

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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Unpacking the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Complaint
By Robert S. Litt Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 12:37 PM
[….]

The original Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 excluded employees of the intelligence community from its protections against retaliation. To remedy this exclusion, Congress in 1998 passed the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, which was incorporated and updated when Congress created the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) in 2010. This law provides an avenue for intelligence community whistleblowers to raise concerns about activities that may violate law or policy, while ensuring the protection of classified information.

The statute authorizes the ICIG to “receive and investigate … complaints or information from any person concerning the existence of an activity within the authorities and responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence constituting a violation of laws, rules or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety.”

It also provides procedures for a whistleblower to inform the congressional intelligence committees of an “urgent concern,” defined as, among other things, a “serious or flagrant problem, abuse, violation of law or Executive order, or deficiency” relating to intelligence activities and involving classified information. The statute requires that an intelligence community employee who wishes to make such a report first submit it to the ICIG, who must determine within 14 days whether it “appears credible.” The ICIG must then provide the DNI a copy of the complaint and his determination about its credibility.

According to the statute, within seven days of receiving such a transmittal from the ICIG, the DNI “shall … forward such transmittal to the congressional intelligence committees, together with any comments the [DNI] considers appropriate.” If the ICIG does not find the complaint credible, or does not transmit it accurately to the DNI, the employee may contact the congressional intelligence committees directly after notifying the ICIG of his or her intention to do so and obtaining direction from the DNI—through the ICIG—for how to contact the committees securely. The statute also allows an employee who has submitted a complaint to the ICIG to notify the congressional intelligence committees that he or she has done so and on what date.

[….]

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Representative Hartzler (r) speaks on the issue of the whistle blower and Donald Trump’s (r) Ukraine scandal. As usual, Representative Hartzler (r) provides no evidence that she’s actually read the applicable statute.

This afternoon:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
Speaker Pelosi’s impeachment inquiry against President Trump is just another political distraction to bring him down. Nothing shows this more clearly than her rush to call for an inquiry without having had access to the transcripts or any other information.
[….]
3:40 PM · Sep 24, 2019

And, as usual, there is much hilarity in the responses:

I think this issue has *evolved.*

Once again Rep. Hartzler shows that she is clearly #partyovercountry. Trump has committed numerous crimes as told by the Mueller report, blatant grifting and now this. But I wouldn’t expect anything else then sad deflection and desperately trying stay on this sinking ship.

Why would anybody in their right mind trust a transcript that came from this White House?

If extorting a foreign nation into meddling in our election isn’t an impeachable offense, I’d like for Vicky to clarify what illegal activity IS?

This isn’t even taking into consideration the multiple acts of obstruction Mueller detailed or the felonious campaign finance.

Hopefully the president will not block the release of the whistle blower complaint to the committee for review. Do you support that?

There’s a reason she doesn’t have the information. The White House illegal stonewalling will not be tolerated.

He and his lawyer admitted it on national television, Vicky.

History will laugh at you.

If there is a history.

How do you sleep at night?

…huh?

Every senator, republican and democrat, on the intelligence committee is now calling for the release of the whistle blower complaint. Why are you complicit?

After Barr’s Mueller report summary- why would they trust anything he gives them? Why should we?

Q: Have they released the Whistle Blower complaint to Congress the way they’re legally obligated to do?

A: No.

Q: Isn’t that breaking the law?

A: Yes

Q: What should we do when the President willfully breaks the law?

A: Impeach the motherfucker.

Same for you right? Just the President and his personal attorney admitting to illegal acts. Wake up!

There be #TreasonInTheWhitehouse

He confessed to it. You don’t believe him?

Vicky: I’m guessing @SpeakerPelosi’s decision was based on @realDonaldTrump’s own admissions during pressers. Did you miss those special moments? Also, @RudyGiuliani’s TV interview admissions.

Congratulations president Pence!!

There’s that.

Who wants to tell her that Trump admitted, on national television, to seeking help from Ukraine?

Said a woman supporting Trump

I hope your name is associated with Trump for all of eternity. You are complicit all if his crimes through your inaction.

This is quite untrue, they have been reviewing evidence… but by all means make stuff up. It’s not as though you represent the show me state…

He’s done a mountain of crimes that warrant impeachment. You’d do well to side with the law and not with a transnational crime syndicate masquerading as a government.

Glad to see you’re on record. Makes it easier to vote you out.

Still, it took a while.

Your letterhead looks like a store brand beer.

Now that you mention it…

How about Trump’s mouth with all the words that keep coming out?

Thanks for letting your constituents and the country know that you lack a moral compass.

Bribery and extortion is illegal.

Shame on you, Vicky Hartzler.

You just don’t get it do you?

When you vote in November, remember that Rep. Hartzler has supported a radical agenda and continues to unquestionably back this corrupt administration.

You’re both a threat to our country and constitution if you really believe this BS you spread

You do realize that by not releasing the whistleblower’s report to Congress, the president was actively breaking the law. Oh wait. Of course you do.

Well, now she does. If she reads this.

Wrong. While you folks have turned a blind eye to arguably the worst president in the past century or two, the list of reasons to pursue impeachment has grown very, very long. That you have ignored them tells us all we need to know about you. It’s time. Impeach. #ImpeachTrump

Why don’t you and your party just declare that the US is an Authoritarian state? I think that’s what it’s called when the government is no longer held accountable and is above the law.

You are a disgrace to Missouri and should not be an elected official. How far does the President have to go before you actually admit to his criminal wrongdoing?

Wake up! Your party is riddled with corruption!

You’re against the constitution and you’re against what is RIGHT for your own political gain. If any democrat was in office and has done what Trump has, you would be screaming your lungs out. You don’t fight for MO-04, you fight for your personal gain. You are disgusting.

Oh, silly Republican. And shame on you. Used to be about the rule of law decades ago. Now your party is only about personality and “our guy.” So sad. The only way you people have power is by cheating, lying and blocking everything in the non-representative Senate. SAD!

#MoscowMitch

The complaint goes to the intelligence committees. By law. You are supporting the breaking of a law. You are a disgrace to this country.

Previously:

Impeachment: Consciousness of Guilt (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D)

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) [2019 file photo].

This afternoon, from Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D):

Cleaver For Congress @Vote4Cleaver
I want history to know where I stood.
[….]
12:03 PM · Sep 24, 2019

Previously:

Impeachment: Consciousness of Guilt (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Consciousness of Guilt

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Sunday, from Senator Mitt Romney (r):

Mitt Romney @MittRomney
If the President asked or pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political rival, either directly or through his personal attorney, it would be troubling in the extreme. Critical for the facts to come out.
1:34 PM · Sep 22, 2019

Yesterday:

Aaron Rupar @atrupar
Trump ends his bilateral media availability with the Polish president by claiming that “if a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did…they’d be getting the electric chair right now,” before calling the assembled journalists “crooked as hell.”
[….]
1:47 PM · Sep 23, 2019

Also yesterday:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
[….]
7:37 PM · Sep 23, 2019

Campaign Finance: one of many great circles

23 Monday Sep 2019

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission from a PAC to the PAC propping up Governor Mike Parson (r):

C180490 09/23/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC CL PAC 12026 MANCHESTER ROAD ST LOUIS MO 63131 9/23/2019 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Just spreading it everywhere. And money, too.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: that’s why we make it here (September 19, 2019)

Campaign Finance: Five twenty-something right wingnut campaign operatives got their wings today (September 20, 2019)

Campaign Finance: Senator Cory Booker (D) – on the way to $1,700,000.00 by September 30th

22 Sunday Sep 2019

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“…Cory 2020 needs to raise an additional $1.7 million by September 30 to be in a position to build the organization necessary to continue competing for the nomination. Without a fundraising surge to close out this quarter, we do not see a legitimate long-term path forward…” – campaign memo sent to supporters and media – Cory2020

Senator Cory Booker’s (D) presidential campaign is one of about a dozen from which we receive media notices. Since March we’ve been able to cover a few of his campaign appearances in Iowa – we count him as one of the many excellent and credible Democratic Party candidates running for the party nomination for president. There are a few others who we encounter (or don’t bother to cover – you can figure it out) who we believe could be a disaster for the party, but would, in every case, be a damn sight better for the country than the current occupant in the White House.

Senator Booker, and at least ten other candidates, far exceeds that low bar.

Still a significant period out from the first votes (caucus or primary) to select the party’s nominee, it would be a disservice, up to a point, to those voters across the country who have a much later primary or caucus for the field of candidates to narrow because of lower than expected candidate fundraising numbers. Gaffs, policy missteps or differences, other issues, fine. Money? Important, but not the most important.

Senator Cory Booker (D) – Ankeny, Iowa – July 15, 2019.

This was good news for Democratic Party voters – yesterday, a press release from Senator Cory Booker’s (D) presidential campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2019

Rise Together Day 1: Cory 2020 Sees Best One-Day Online Fundraising Haul of Campaign To Date
Cory 2020 is nearly 18% toward $1.7 million goal after Day 1 of critical 10 day period

Raises $300,000+ in one day after warning that if fundraising trajectory doesn’t change by Sept. 30, campaign will not be able to build organization necessary to win

Newark, NJ — Cory 2020 saw its best single-day online fundraising haul after alerting supporters in an urgent memo on Saturday morning that the campaign did not see a legitimate long-term path forward in the presidential race without a fundraising surge before September 30th.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher for the future of our campaign, and we’re absolutely blown away by the response on day one,” said Cory 2020 Campaign Manager Addisu Demissie. “People really stepped up and responded — clearly there is a desire to keep Cory in this race and help us build our organization in a way that puts us on a path to win the nomination.

“We made significant progress toward our $1.7 million goal yesterday — it was the best single online fundraising day of our campaign, bigger than even the launch of this campaign on February 1. There’s a long way to go but today showed us that, when we come together, we can tackle tough challenges. That’s how we’ll win this primary, that’s how we’ll beat Donald Trump, and that’s how we’ll change this country and change the world”

Totals for Saturday, September 21, 2019:

Percent toward goal: 17.7%
Total Raised: $300,495.79
Total Raised Online: $278,950.00
Total Donations: 8,403
Comparison to yesterday: 31.62 x bigger

# # #

We don’t know if Senator Booker’s campaign will succeed in reaching their ultimate fundraising goal. The point is, he’s trying and people are responding. That says a lot about the quality of the candidate and his voice, the confidence of voters, the quality of the Democratic Party field, and the abysmal record of the current occupant of the White House

Previously:

Sen. Cory Booker (D) in Indianola, Iowa – March 16, 2019 – “Hope is the active conviction that despair will not have the last word.” (March 16, 2019)

Sen. Cory Booker (D) – “Conversations with Presidential Candidates” – Iowa Public Television – Ankeny, Iowa – July 15, 2019 (July 15, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Are you on drugs?

21 Saturday Sep 2019

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Most of us are.

Yesterday, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
Pelosi’s one-size-fits-all approach to tackle prescription drug prices doesn’t address the root causes. Her drug price plan is filled with socialist price controls that stifles research and innovation.

This isn’t right. We can do better. We have to work together.
10:23 AM · Sep 20, 2019

Ah, socialism, the current right wingnut republican buzzword.

“…Her drug price plan is filled with socialist price controls that stifles research and innovation…”

NIH funding contributed to 210 approved drugs in recent years, study says
By Megan Thielking [….] February 12, 2018

…Federally funded studies contributed to the science that underlies every one of the 210 new drugs approved between 2010 and 2016…

Pharmaceutical corporations need to stop free-riding on publicly-funded research
By Jason Cone, opinion contributor — 03/03/18 01:00 PM EST
…Pharmaceutical companies have perpetuated a myth that high prices are necessary in order to compensate for the risks and investments they undertake when developing drugs. And governments like the U.S. — the biggest funder of global health research and development (R&D) — have let them…

Or did Representative Hartzler (r) really mean “stifles exorbitant profits and CEO compensation”?

Meanwhile, there was much hilarity in some of the comments to Representative Hartzler’s (r) Pharma Tweet:

Girl, you’ve taken $1.1M+ in farm subsidies.

Tell me about how you hate socialized programs again.

So Hartzler loves socialism…as long as she’s getting the benefits personally. Screw poor, sick, and hungry kids, though, eh?

Wrong, her [Pelosi] drug price plan protects the American consumers!!!
#UnAmerican #CorruptGOP

You aren’t trying. You aren’t working together. She could come out tomorrow and support a GOP plan and you’d still call it socialist. Piss off. This is 100% fixable and your fault for doing nothing.

Granting @HHSGov limited authority to negotiate prices on 250 *branded* prescription drugs that lack generic or biosimilar competitors & represent the greatest cost to Medicare, with a cap at 120% of market price in 6 other countries…Is “Socialism”?

Republicans haven’t done sh*t except try to take healthcare AWAY.
Your prez is trying to repeal what little we have left. Who believes anything republicans say anymore?

Hey the GOP has done absolutely nothing yet, so I’m sure after this really informed tweet you will get right back to doing nothing!

Republicans had the majority in the House for 10 years, and the only thing that happened were attempts to repeal the ACA 60 some odd times. Discuss actual policy specifics and details on alternatives, and we can talk.

You do not seem to be representing anyone but the GOP brand, GOP buzz words and your own self interests. Healthcare, insurance and prescription drug costs are unaffordable for your constituents. Not for you or Congress though. How about a Town Hall on the topic?

Open public town hall? Not gonna happen.

Good grief; is there anybody out there who buys this garbage rhetoric? Capitalism is not doing sick people any favors. Time to try something new.

Tweet out your plan that’s better in detail. I will be waiting.

We see what you did there. Tweet/detail.

It seems like the new buzz word for the republicans is “socialist”

Hey, we already said that…

Big Pharma has been paying the GOP for years to not allow Medicare to negotiate prices. I remember watching debate on the House floor in 2003 when the Medicare reform bill was passed. The Democrats wanted to include limits to rising Rx prices. The GOP would not allow it.

#socialist says what?

You mean greed, right!

You can do better? You have done NOTHING for YEARS!!!

So what is your plan because this is a serious issue and it seems like Pelosi actually wants to deal with it?

Socialist farm subsidies and bailout money is good but socialist approaches to help people get affordable prescription drugs are bad. You’re a bigly hypocrite!

You mean socialist, like the massive farm subsidies you collect?

Republicans only criticize but NEVER come up with feasible ideas for healthcare & drug costs! You are not helping the matter. If u have criticism then u better come back with a viable solution. Ur the problem!

What is your plan Vicky? That’s right, more of the same, the GOP plan of working Americans getting screwed to make the rich even richer.

Socialist? You clearly don’t understand the meaning of the word. I am beginning to doubt your abilities.

Nice cut and paste Vicky. Follow the line and deflect.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Campaign Finance: Five twenty-something right wingnut campaign operatives got their wings today

20 Friday Sep 2019

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C180492 09/20/2019 MO Opportunity PAC Rex A Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 Retired Retired 9/20/2019 $250,000.00

[emphasis added]

Not much has changed.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: such an opportunity (February 29, 2019)

Campaign Finance: every time a billionaire writes a $50,000.00 campaign contribution check a twenty-something right wingnut campaign operative gets their wings (September 16, 2017)

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): what being a whore for the NRA gets the rest of us

20 Friday Sep 2019

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Yesterday, in Missouri, from the mother of an elementary school student:

My 3rd-grade son just said this.

“If an intruder ever comes to my school, and if I don’t have any place to hide, I will just give up. I will let him kill me.”

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

Blunt’s budget bill omits $50 million for gun violence study favored by Democrats
By Bryan Lowry
September 18, 2019 02:29 PM, Updated September 19, 2019 11:35 AM

Senate Republicans are pursuing a federal health budget that omits funding for gun violence research, a proposal that Sen. Roy Blunt warns is too “controversial.”

[….]

Do you wonder why?

Which lawmakers got the most NRA money?
By Soo Rin Kim Feb 20, 2018, 8:51 PM ET
[….]
Sen. Roy Blunt: $4.5 million
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has long been one of the biggest beneficiaries of NRA money. Not only has the group donated $56,500 to Blunt’s campaign committee over the years, the group has also spent $1.4 million bankrolling ads supporting him. The NRA also spent $2.5 million in 2016 opposing Democrat Jason Kander’s bid against the Missouri Republican.
[….]

Too soon? Too controversial?

Just excuses.