The Biden Era

[Sandy Shanks]

Putin is being rewarded handsomely. America is in turmoil. The very basis of our democracy, free elections, is under attack. Trump and the Republican Party are, of course, responsible, aided by a very conservative Supreme Court that has become so unpopular it has walled itself off from the American people.

CNN reports, "The marshal of the Supreme Court has asked Maryland and Virginia officials to direct law enforcement to enforce state and county laws prohibiting picketing outside the homes of Supreme Court justices, according to letters obtained by CNN.

"Col. Gail A Curley sent letters to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Democrat Marc Elrich, the county executive of Montgomery County, and Democrat Jeffrey McKay, Fairfax County board of supervisors’ chairman.

"The letters, released by a court spokesperson on Saturday to reporters and sent as the court ended a blockbuster term which saw historic decisions on guns, abortion and climate, refer to protests that have taken place “for weeks on end."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

USA Today reports, "Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee, said Sunday, that it's possible that there could be multiple criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

"She told ABC News' "This Week" that while the Jan. 6 committee will decide whether Trump should face charges, the Justice Department could make a criminal referral without waiting for the committee, adding that there "could be more than one criminal referral."

"Cheney said she was more worried about not holding people accountable than about what it means for a country for a former president to be prosecuted."

"I think it’s a much graver constitutional threat if a president can engage in these kinds of activities and the majority of the President's party looks away or we as a country decide, you know, we're not actually going to take our constitutional obligations seriously. I think that’s a much – a much more serious threat," she said.

The majority of the President's party looks away!

There is that silence again from Congressional Republicans. They just want this to all go away so they can talk about inflation and high gas prices.

 

[scruffy]

USA Today reports, "Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.,

"She told ABC News' "This Week" that while the Jan. 6 committee will decide whether Trump should face charges, the Justice Department could make a criminal referral without waiting for the committee, adding that there "could be more than one criminal referral."
.

Tinfoil Hat Lizzie is completely full of shit.

The committee has no such power.

The committee does NOT decide whether Trump will face charges

Cheney is a lying Neo-Con skank

 

[Sandy Shanks]

NBC reports, "On Monday, a gunman opened fire from a rooftop on the community's July Fourth parade, killing at least six and injuring 38 others. No one has been arrested, though police have named a person of interest.

The Republican Senate Intelligence Committee reaffirmed its support for the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election with the goal of putting Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Senate Intel report confirms Russia aimed to help Trump in 2016

Is Vladimir Putin achieving his goal? Has America become divided thanks to Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the Trump oriented extremist Supreme Court?

Stephen Collinson opines, "Rarely have Americans been so divided on what their country stands for as on the 246th anniversary of independence.

"If, as Abraham Lincoln said, a house divided against itself cannot stand, the years to come beckon even more national discord. The unity for which President Joe Biden pleaded in his inaugural address seems more elusive than ever.

"US democracy is still fighting for its survival, as the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol reveals ever more frightening details of Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the 2020 election. The ex-President is, meanwhile, impatient to launch a 2024 campaign rooted in his election fraud lies that would highlight his increasingly autocratic tendencies."

It is telling that Trump refuses to be sworn in and testify in his own defense. His allies have the same attitude. Strangely enough, Republicans are complaining the hearings are one-sided, proving once again they are clueless.

I digress, Collinson continues, "In another example of startling political disruption, an activist Supreme Court, protected behind high metal fences in its marbled Washington chambers, just stripped away the constitutional right of millions of women to have an abortion. The decision validates a half-century campaign by conservative activists, many of whom have sincere religious objections against abortion, which they equate with the murder of an unborn child.

"But the Supreme Court’s decision and the emerging patchwork system of abortion restrictions across the US have been met with outrage in other parts of America.

"Given the political discord boiling way beneath the surface of Monday’s national celebrations, it’s hardly surprising that a staggering 85% of US adults in an Associated Press-NORC poll released last week said things in the country are headed in the wrong direction."

The Republican Party is taking full advantage of the less informed rural voter.

"Almost every day, there’s a controversy or political fight that underscores the antagonism between more moderate, diverse, and socially tolerant American cities and suburbs and the conservatism of rural America," Collinson adds.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

“So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state,” President Trump to the Georgian secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, on Jan. 3, 2021.

CNN reports, "An Atlanta-area special grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia has subpoenaed a handful of key Trump allies, including his former attorney Rudy Giuliani and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to court filings.

"The subpoenas also cover a handful of the Trump campaign’s other former legal advisers, including John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, Cleta Mitchell and Kenneth Chesebro.

"Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been leading the investigation digging into Trump’s actions in Georgia. Several state officials have already been subpoenaed and have appeared before the special grand jury.

"Willis has been investigating potential crimes including solicitation of election fraud, making false statements, conspiracy, racketeering, and threats related to election administration.

"The latest raft of subpoenas marks a new phase, as the grand jury seeks testimony from witnesses who were members of Trump’s inner circle.

"The special grand jury wants to hear from Graham because the Republican senator allegedly made two calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff in the wake of the 2020 election. According to court filings, Graham “questioned Secretary Raffensperger and his staff about reexamining certain absentee ballots cast in Georgia in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump.”

No doubt Republicans will continue their silence through all of this, and the Republican Party is turning a blind eye to Trump's alleged crimes, not even coming to his defense.

Trump is the leading Republican candidate for the Presidency in 2024.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports, "The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection has scheduled its seventh hearing for July 12, the panel announced Tuesday.

"The hearing is set to start at 10 a.m. ET. The committee has not yet announced any witnesses.

"Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, a member of the committee, had previously told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the next hearing will focus on “efforts to assemble that mob on the mall” and connections between the Trump White House and various extremist groups at the rally that preceded the attack on the US Capitol, including the Proud Boys, Three Percenters, and others.

"Sarah Matthews, who served as deputy press secretary in the Trump White House until resigning shortly after the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, has been subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the insurrection and has agreed to testify at an upcoming hearing.

"Matthews has been subpoenaed to testify at a public hearing as early as next week, sources tell CNN.

"Matthews resigned the night of January 6, 2021, saying in a statement that she was honored to serve in then-President Donald Trump’s administration but “was deeply disturbed by what I saw.” She added: “Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power.”

Little wonder as to why Congressional Republicans are staying away. Still, they are looking the other way at a failed attempt by their party to overthrow the elected government.

For Trump supporters, this is rapidly becoming a train wreck.

 

[Meister]

For Trump supporters, this is rapidly becoming a train wreck.

Biden's 38% approval rating is more of a train wreck than Trump, I assure you of that.

 

[scruffy]

For Trump supporters, this is rapidly becoming a train wreck.

Hardly.

This is the same old Schittface that lied through his teeth twice before in a failed effort to get Trump.

Nothing has changed

He's still lying through his teeth.

The one and only reason that guy still has a job is because of the Armenians.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

For Trump supporters, this is rapidly becoming a train wreck.

The Times reports, "Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel to President Donald J. Trump who repeatedly fought Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has reached a deal to be interviewed by Friday before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, according to people familiar with the inquiry.

"The agreement was a breakthrough for the panel, which has pressed for weeks for Mr. Cipollone to cooperate — and issued a subpoena to him last week — believing he could provide crucial testimony.

"Mr. Cipollone was a witness to pivotal moments in Mr. Trump’s push to invalidate the election results, including discussions about seizing voting machines and sending false letters to state officials about election fraud. He was also in the West Wing on Jan. 6, 2021, as Mr. Trump reacted to the violence at the Capitol, when his supporters attacked the building in his name."

In one form or another, perhaps even a video, Cipollone's testimony will be provided to the public.

 

[badbob85037]

According to FiveThirtyEight, which is a poll that averages several leading polls, our President's current approval number is 42%. That's not very good, and it is somewhat of a mystery.

CNN reports, "The United States is rapidly approaching a major jobs milestone that highlights the historically strong economic recovery from Covid-19.

The axiom is true. Presidents, unless they do something drastic, have very little control over the economy. Nonetheless, if the economy is good, they get the credit, as in the case of Trump. If there are serious problems with the economy, the President gets the blame, as in the case of Biden.

ABC reports, "Employers posted a record 11.5 million job openings in March, meaning the United States now has an unprecedented two job openings for every person who is unemployed.

"The latest data released Tuesday by the the Bureau of Labor Statistics further reveals an extraordinarily tight labor market that has emboldened millions of Americans to seek better paying jobs, while also contributing to the biggest inflation surge in four decades."

According to CNN, 66% of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of the economy.

The AP reports, "President Joe Biden on Wednesday highlighted new figures showing the government’s red ink will grow less than expected this year and the national debt will shrink this quarter as he tried to counter criticism of his economic leadership amid growing dismay over inflation going into midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.

"Biden, embracing deficit reduction as a way to fight inflation, stressed that the dip in the national debt would be the first in six years, an achievement that eluded former President Donald Trump despite his promises to improve the federal balance sheet."

Stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point.

"The Dow ended the day up by more than 900 points, and the S&P 500 gained almost 3 percent," NPR.

When it comes to the economy, Americans are naive.

With a percentage like that it shows just how under equipped a large portioned of US Citizens are that can't deal with basic life. If left to do for their self most would starve or be shot stealing

According to FiveThirtyEight, which is a poll that averages several leading polls, our President's current approval number is 42%. That's not very good, and it is somewhat of a mystery.

CNN reports, "The United States is rapidly approaching a major jobs milestone that highlights the historically strong economic recovery from Covid-19.

The axiom is true. Presidents, unless they do something drastic, have very little control over the economy. Nonetheless, if the economy is good, they get the credit, as in the case of Trump. If there are serious problems with the economy, the President gets the blame, as in the case of Biden.

ABC reports, "Employers posted a record 11.5 million job openings in March, meaning the United States now has an unprecedented two job openings for every person who is unemployed.

"The latest data released Tuesday by the the Bureau of Labor Statistics further reveals an extraordinarily tight labor market that has emboldened millions of Americans to seek better paying jobs, while also contributing to the biggest inflation surge in four decades."

According to CNN, 66% of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of the economy.

The AP reports, "President Joe Biden on Wednesday highlighted new figures showing the government’s red ink will grow less than expected this year and the national debt will shrink this quarter as he tried to counter criticism of his economic leadership amid growing dismay over inflation going into midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.

"Biden, embracing deficit reduction as a way to fight inflation, stressed that the dip in the national debt would be the first in six years, an achievement that eluded former President Donald Trump despite his promises to improve the federal balance sheet."

Stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point.

"The Dow ended the day up by more than 900 points, and the S&P 500 gained almost 3 percent," NPR.

When it comes to the economy, Americans are naive.

That is a large percentage of the American population that couldn't feed them self and if made to do so would starve or be shot stealing food. We all know why we come here. It's not to debate. You can't debate with only one party able to see reality. It's to enlighten us that there are people that stupid plus get a laugh. And don't forget their petty "Trump did this and Trump did that" crying bitches. We'll have an even bigger laugh when Trump is elected in 2024. I don't ever thing these clowns could ever get any motivation to move and will end up having to kill them but for now they sure crack me up.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Although I voted for our current President because the alternative was unthinkable, I am not a Democrat. Indeed, until Trump drove me out with his ludicrous, later seditious, behavior, I was a Republican for a quarter of a century. Today, I am officially a conservative Independent.

I am not fond of Democrats primarily because they can be quite stupid. For example, in 2016, young Democrats who were offended that Bernie didn't get the Democratic nomination, voted for Trump in large enough numbers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to give Trump the Presidency. Can anyone think of anything more stupid?

Now a number of Democrats are blaming the wrong party for inaction -- theirs!

ABC reports, "As Sen. Michael Bennet sought to encourage a small crowd of fellow Democrats not to give up the fight for abortion rights, Maryah Lauer stepped forward, bullhorn in hand, to exhort him to do more.

“Do you support ending the filibuster and expanding the court?” the 28-year-old called out from a quartet of fellow activists. “The Democrats are not doing enough.”

"The confrontation was a sign of the frustration among many Democrats after the Supreme Court's decision last month to strip women of the constitutional right to abortion. The question heading into this year's midterm elections is whether the outrage will energize Democrats to vote or leave them disillusioned and staying home."

Notwithstanding Democratic extremism such as ending the filibuster which can come back to haunt the party, packing the court, and putting abortion clinics on federal land, there is very little the Democratic Party can do in the face of the Supreme Court decision.

The crazy Democrats should be blaming the Republican Party which is responsible for the unwise decision in the first place along with a few other extremist far-right decisions with more coming. A Republican President was able to name three conservative judges which made all this possible.

But Democrats are blaming Democrats instead.

In addition, Senate Republicans along with two Democrats who think like Republicans are blocking everything our President is trying to do!

Senate Republicans will not allow meaningful gun control laws to be passed. Instead, we got a weak gun law that will do nothing to stop killers like Robert Crimo, Salvador Ramos, or Payton S. Gendron.

Senate Republicans will not allow a ban on assault rifles to be passed, the kind of weapon used in the massacres at Buffalo, Uvalde, and now Highland Park. The NRA, the proud sponsor of the Republican Party, would not be pleased with a restriction on a rifle that was designed for the military for the expressed purpose of killing people, which it does very efficiently as we all know.

Senate Republicans will not allow Roe vs. Wade to be codified into law. The religious right would be very displeased should that happen.

President Biden wants all of these things accomplished, but it is not going to happen in the near term.

So, Democrats are blaming our President. Combined with Republicans, President Biden's poll numbers are in the toilet. Because Democrats are casting blame on a Democratic President for the gridlock, these same Democrats are like to lose control of the House and Senate in November.

I guess Democrats think Republicans can do a better job.

I did say Democrats were quite stupid at times.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

ABC reports, "A Republican candidate for Michigan governor pleaded not guilty Thursday for his actions during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when he says he and other supporters of then-President Donald Trump were exercising their free speech rights.

"Ryan Kelley appeared via video for a brief hearing in federal court, weeks after the real estate broker was arrested at his home in western Michigan and charged with several misdemeanors for his role in the riot.

"Kelley said little during the hearing, but at a debate Wednesday night he said he and others at the Capitol were unhappy with the 2020 presidential election when Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

“That was a First Amendment activity by a majority of those people, myself included," Kelley said. "We were there protesting the government because we don’t like the results of the 2020 election, the process of how it happened. And we have that First Amendment right. And that’s what 99% of the people were there for that day.”

President Donald Trump’s assault on American democracy began in the spring of 2020, when he issued a flurry of preemptive attacks on the integrity of the country’s voting systems. The doubts he cultivated ultimately led to a rampage inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob came within seconds of encountering Vice President Mike Pence, trapped lawmakers, and vandalized the home of Congress in the worst desecration of the complex since British forces burned it in 1814. Five people died in the Jan. 6 attack or in the immediate aftermath, and 140 police officers were assaulted. The Washington Post.

With Donald Trump as President for four years, Republicans running for office have learned the art of lying to the American people.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

ABC reports, "The European Union's parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly condemned the end of constitutional protections for abortion in the United States and called for such safeguards to be enshrined in the EU's fundamental rights charter.

“It teaches us a lesson: Women’s and girls’ human rights can never be taken for granted, and we must always fight to defend them,” Swedish politician Helene Fritzon said.

"Underscoring fears that anti-abortion movements might expand in Europe, some legislators said they wanted to see EU-wide protections adopted."

“The United States has clearly shown why we must use every tool available to safeguard abortion rights in the European Union," said Stéphane Séjourné the president of the Renew Europe group in the EU Parliament.

Congratulations to the Republican Party. Because of the powerful influence of the religious right. the Republican Party has made the United States a pariah among nations.

Once again Vladimir Putin is pleased that he helped Donald Trump become President in 2016. Trump's three selections to the Supreme Court made all this possible.

The forum's Republicans will probably remain silent about these issues. They rarely talk about their own party. It is off-limits. Also, they don't care, and they don't have the background to respond.

Most will have to consult the nearest Webster's to find out what pariah means.

Republicans are expected to win control of Congress in November because the Democrats are busy blaming the Democratic President because his goals are being blocked by Senate Republicans.

I am proud to be an Independent.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Democrats are blaming our President. Combined with Republicans, President Biden's poll numbers are in the toilet. Because Democrats are casting blame on a Democratic President for the gridlock, these same Democrats are likely to lose control of the House and Senate in November.

I guess Democrats think Republicans can do a better job.

The Republican inspired Supreme Court overruled Roe vs. Wade, thus approving government control of women's health when a pregnancy is involved. Our President strongly disapproves of the decision.

So do most Americans. Suddenly, certain Republican oriented Supreme Court justices have become very unpopular, and they have walled themselves off from the American people.

That has never happened before.

The AP reports, "President Joe Biden on Friday condemned the “extreme” Supreme Court majority that ended a constitutional right to abortion and delivered an impassioned plea for Americans upset by the decision to “vote, vote, vote vote” in November. Under mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to be more forceful in response to the ruling, he signed an executive order to try to protect access to the procedure.

"The actions Biden outlined are intended to head off some potential penalties that women seeking abortion may face after the ruling, but his order cannot restore access to abortion in the more than a dozen states where strict limits or total bans have gone into effect. About a dozen more states are set to impose additional restrictions.

"Biden acknowledged the limitations facing his office, saying it would require an act of Congress to restore nationwide access to the way it was before the June 24 decision."

Currently, Senate Republicans will not allow that to happen.

President Biden said that he would support making an exception to the filibuster – the 60-vote threshold in the Senate needed to pass most legislation – in order to codify abortion rights and the right to privacy through legislation passed by Congress. However, two Republican leaning Democratic Senators, Manchin of West Virginia and Sinema of Arizona, are opposed to changing the filibuster rule. Consequently, the President needs two additional Democrats in the Senate and to maintain control of the House to codify Roe vs. Wade.

Hence the plea for votes.

Combined with the public's indictment of the former Republican President for attempting to overthrow the elected government, the Democrats have a shot in November.

But only if the Democrats quit blaming the Democratic President for the Republican Party's opposition to Democratic goals.

I know that the last sentence makes no sense, but there it is. It's called politics and several Democrats are acting like children. They are not getting their way, so, they blame daddy.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Combined with the public's indictment of the former Republican President for attempting to overthrow the elected government, the Democrats have a shot in November.

But only if the Democrats quit blaming the Democratic President for the Republican Party's opposition to Democratic goals.

ABC reports, "The U.S. saw stronger than expected job growth in June, as the economy added 372,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

"The new data arrives at a precarious moment. Across the economy, acute financial distress could grow as the Fed pursues a series of rate hikes that aim to dial back sky-high inflation but risks tipping the economy into a recession. At its most recent meeting, last month, the Fed raised its benchmark interest rate 0.75%, its largest rate increase since 1994.

"Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Joe Biden touted the employment data as a sign of strong economic performance, despite persistent inflation."

When are Americans going to learn? A byproduct of prosperity is inflation. Deflation is a byproduct of recession. That is economics 101. Yet Americans are blaming the President for inflation.

Prosperity or recession? Americans need to ask themselves, which would you rather have?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The AP reports, "Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone met for a private interview with the Jan. 6 committee for about eight hours Friday regarding his role in trying to prevent then-President Donald Trump from challenging the 2020 presidential election and joining the violent mob that laid siege to the Capitol.

"Cipollone, once a staunch presidential confidant who had defended Trump during his first impeachment trial, had been reluctant to appear formally for an on-record interview. Like other former White House officials, it is possible he claimed his counsel to the Republican president as privileged information he was unwilling to share with the committee.

"It remained unclear after he left the Capitol Hill building Friday afternoon whether he had remained within those parameters during the hourslong interview.

"Cipollone has been a sought-after witness after bombshell testimony revealed his apparently desperate and last-ditch efforts to prevent Trump’s actions. The panel was told he warned the defeated president would be charged with “every crime imaginable” if he went to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election. Cipollone was subpoenaed for his testimony."

Cipollone was the White House counsel. As such, Trump was not his client. The Executive Branch, or the Office of the President, was his client.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Democrats are virtually guaranteeing that the Democratic Party will lose control of Congress in November.

Republicans are responsible for the overturning of Roe vs, Wade, thus approving the government's control of a woman's health when a pregnancy is involved.

Republicans are responsible for the attempted overthrow of our elected government.

Republicans will not allow meaningful gun control measures, thus causing rampant crime in our cities and shooting massacres.

Republicans will not allow a ban on assault rifles, the type of weapon used in the massacres in Buffalo, Uvalde, Highland Park.

Who do Democrats blame? The Democratic President, of course, thus assuring a Republican victory in the fall.

The Times reports, "President Biden is facing an alarming level of doubt from inside his own party, with 64 percent of Democratic voters saying they would prefer a new standard-bearer in the 2024 presidential campaign, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll, as voters nationwide have soured on his leadership, giving him a meager 33 percent job-approval rating."

The President has very little control over the economy, and inflation is caused by the pandemic, supply problems, natural consequence of full employment and prosperity, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Who do Democrats blame? The Democratic President, of course.

The Times resumes, "Widespread concerns about the economy and inflation have helped turn the national mood decidedly dark, both on Mr. Biden and the trajectory of the [Democratically controlled] nation."

This is reminiscent of the 2016 Presidential election. Young Democratic voters were depressed that their boy, Bernie Sanders, did not get the Democratic nod, and they turned their anger on the Democratic Party. They voted in large enough numbers for Trump in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to give Trump the Presidency.

Now Democrats are doing their best to do it all over again in 2022. Go figure.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump and Steve Bannon lie so much they no longer can distinguish reality from fantasy.

ABC reports, "Steve Bannon, a former top adviser in Donald Trump's White House, recently told the House panel investigating the Capitol riot that he would be willing to testify since Trump now says he won't cite executive privilege.

"In a letter on Saturday to the committee, obtained by ABC News, Bannon said he would prefer testifying in a live, public hearing after the former president had sent him a separate letter on Saturday."

Bannon thinks the Jan. 6 committee will allow him to appear on live television to expound on his zany, baseless conspiracy fantasies? He definitely has a problem with reality. That is not going to happen.

ABC explains, "Jan 6 committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren suggested that a public testimony may be unlikely. "This goes on for hour after hour after hour. We want to get all our questions answered, and you can't do that in a live format."

Then there is the matter of executive privilege. This is where fantasy collides with reality when Trump and Bannon are involved.

Again, ABC explains, "Both the House committee and federal prosecutors who sought to speak with Bannon have said the executive privilege claims never covered him, since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection took place long after Bannon left his post as chief White House strategist in 2017.

"Bannon previously defied a subpoena from the committee and is awaiting trial on criminal contempt charges."

Suddenly, Bannon now wants to cooperate with the committee ... governed by his conditions, of course. As mentioned, that will not happen.

ABC continued, "In Trump's letter to Bannon, Trump reiterated his criticisms of the House committee."

"He wrote, "When you first received the Subpoena to testify and provide documents, I invoked Executive Privilege. However, I watched how unfairly you and others have been treated. Therefore, if you reach an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive Executive Privilege for you, which allows you to go in and testify truthfully and fairly..."

"The Justice Department revealed in an early Monday morning court filing that federal investigators interviewed former President Donald Trump's attorney Justin Clark two weeks ago in connection with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon's criminal contempt case.

"Prosecutors say that Clark confirmed in the interview that at no point did Trump ever invoke executive privilege over Bannon's testimony."

Who is lying? I really have no idea, but Clark was under oath to federal investigators. Trump and Bannon are free to lie. They were not under oath. The reader can decide.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports. "Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone testified for eight hours in front of the House Jan. 6 Committee on Friday in a closed-door interview. Here are some key moments of his testimony played at the committee's seventh hearing on Tuesday.

"He did not think there was sufficient evidence of election fraud: In his testimony, Cipollone said he agreed with former Attorney General Bill Barr, who concluded there was insufficient evidence of election fraud. He recounted former chief of staff Mark Meadows saying in November 2020 that then-President Trump should have conceded, to which he said he agreed. Jason Miller, a former senior adviser to Trump, told the committee that Cipollone called John Eastman's theory to overturn the election "nutty." Cipollone did not refute this statement.

"He was verbally attacked during the Dec. 18, 2020 meeting at the White House. Cipollone told the committee he walked into the Dec.18 meeting attended by Trump, former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne.

"The meeting, which lasted six hours, was described as “unhinged” by former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Ideas circulated about overturning the election including Flynn's suggestion to invoke martial law and inspection of voting machines.

“I don’t think any of these people were providing the President with good advice,” Cipollone told the committee.

"After asking where the evidence was for claims of voter fraud, Cipollone said that he and Meadows were verbally attacked for questioning where the evidence was for Trump’s claimed victory."

CBS reports, "Tuesday's hearing began with a tweet Trump sent at 1:42 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2020, which said, "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

"On January 6, Trump knew the crowd was angry," committee member Raskin said. "He knew the crowd was armed. He sent them to the Capitol anyway."

"When you catch somebody in a fraud, you are allowed to go by very different rules."
We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy. And after this, we’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you. We are going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country,” part of President Trump's instructions to the mob on Jan. 6, 2021.

Was this the President giving orders to those in the audience?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump remains beloved by the members of his cult, the grassroots Republican. That is a dilemma for the Republican Party.

CNN reports, "Republican leaders are trying to send a not-so-subtle signal to Donald Trump these days: Do NOT announce for president before the November midterm elections."

“Yeah, I think we’d like to just kind of keep the accelerator down and push hard into November,” Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the chamber, said Monday. “I think we’ve got, you know, the issues set and everything the political landscapes, environment’s favorable. And I think the fewer disruptions obviously, the better, but, you know, I don’t have any control over what he may or may not do or when he may do it.”

"Thune’s warning comes amid increasing signs that Trump is itching to announce a third candidacy – and to do so before the midterms.

"The party's message is clear: Don’t screw this up for us."