Wow, Look at the Cobwebs

 I'm surprised Google hasn't deleted my blog by now. Maybe they never do that. Anyway LTTE that Post Star didn't see fit to print for whatever reason and rather than see my efforts go totally to waste. 

I want to thank James Hart for the Sunday fact-check. Officer Brian Sicknick was sprayed in the face with bear mace. It was determined, horrible as that must’ve been, not to be the cause of his death. Ashli Babbitt was killed by, to use a polite term, nonsense. She’d been fed two months of lies about the election by the world’s sorest loser. This propaganda came from Donald Trump, his lawyers, rightwing media and his minions in Congress, including ours. The families of Babbitt and Sicknick and the 140 injured officers deserve our sympathy and our support for investigation. The January 6th Committee began last Tuesday with four officers testifying. They’ve been mocked by rightwing media with garbage not worth repeating. Seeing videos of the attack, I’m astonished there weren’t more deaths. The feat they accomplished was a miracle. Rep. Stefanik provided an expected distraction. She knows Speaker Pelosi isn’t responsible for the attack. Who were the targets of the mob? Obviously Pence, since they had a gallows constructed and were chanting about using it. They were calling for Pelosi. It’s not a stretch to think any Democrat would’ve been in danger, along with Sen. Romney. How much danger were Republicans in, especially if they were the face of Trump’s first impeachment defense? Testimony, under oath, will go on the historical record unlike cheap attempts to gaslight. Sen. Sasse says people in the White House told him Trump was “delighted” on January 6th. Historians will be delighted to know what did the president do and when did he do it. Rep. Kinzinger asks, “Did the president make calls? If he didn’t, why?” Did Trump’s actions match what would be expected of a Commander in Chief when the US Capitol was under attack?

iPhone LTTE

I’m writing about Rep. Stefanik’s support of the president’s defunding of World Health Organization. This has been criticized by other world leaders who don’t feel their efforts have been harmed by the organization. The rock-ribbed conservative Chamber of Commerce released a statement, “Cutting the WHO’s funding during the COVID-19 pandemic is not in the U.S. interests.” Why is it the U.S. has over 31% of the cases in the world and the most deaths? South Korea had their first reported case the same day we did and has 234 deaths to our nearly 41,000 as I write this. Is this the fault of the WHO or are they a convenient scapegoat?

Once the crisis subsides a bit there’s much to investigate: WHO, China, the president’s actions and lack there of. Four deaths in Benghazi drew 8 investigations and 33 hearings in Congress. I’d suggest a look at rightwing media as well. How long did Fox News proclaim the virus a hoax? Currently, they’re urging people to ignore and protest the efforts of governors to protect public health. Along those same lines, I wonder if our congresswomen finds the president’s “Liberate” tweets aimed at states with Democratic governors helpful. Inciting insurrection some have called it. At the very least, it doesn’t seem helpful. 

Impeachment Impeded Trump

Since the latest bullshit is that Trump was so busy with impeachment he couldn’t take on coronavirus:

Yes. He held rallies on:
—January 9th
—January 14th
—January 28th
—January 30th
—February 10th
—February 19th
—February 20th
—February 21st
—February 28th

He golfed on:
—January 18th
—January 19th
—February 1st
—February 15th
—March 7th
—March 8th

Thanks to Andrew Wortman on Twitter. And since I’m there. Rick Wilson:

Someone pointed out the cognitive dissonance of the current Trump message. "Trump's handling of Corona has been PERFECT from the start and he was johnny-on-the-spot!" while simultaneously saying, "Oh, the MEAN impeachment was SO distracting."

Warnings Ignored

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It’s Safer Than I Thought

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Wanted to put this where it’ll be handy when I’m freaking out about bring in the mail, the morning paper or a box from Amazon.

Stay Home, Submit On Your IPhone

I read that Rep. Stefanik says “ President Trump should take action under the Defense Production Act to meet our nation’s needs during this national emergency.” He’s not, though. Reps Katko, Slotkin and Ryan have sponsored the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act. This would force President Trump to use the Defense Production Act to require companies to begin emergency production of medical ventilators, respirators, face shields, exam gloves and surgical gowns. Thirty Democrats and zero Republicans have signed on the last I saw.

This seems like a better focus for her energy right now than the investigation of what China knew when. That can be done once we survive the current crisis. And Democrats can investigate why Trump has done or not done whatever.

A word of praise for all the medical professionals serving us now. Governor Cuomo said, “We are going to fight every way we can to save every life we can.” Stay strong, stay home. Don’t make their jobs harder by following bad advice.

End the Malarkey

I’d like to respond to Mr. Brooks’ attack on people who are critical of Rep. Stefanik. Fox News seems equally down on anyone criticizing the president. Mr. Brooks and Fox were quite critical of President Obama awhile back. Also, I haven’t forgotten the many letters with nearly identical laundry lists of gripes (i.e. gish gallop) about his presidency. During the Ebola crisis Trump called Obama stupid and incompetent and condemned him for golfing. Imagine that. I realize there are some who have a view of Trump similar to that of North Koreans toward Kim Jong Un. If that works for you. I like to view elected officials of whatever rank as employees. 

I also want to denounce strongly the person who left the nasty note on Rep. Stefanik’s car. Our congresswoman has been rabid about it toward Tedra Cobb which I don’t understand. Pretty sure Cobb didn’t leave the note and has no responsibility for it. Stefanik does have responsibility for the continued use of a childish nickname for Cobb. I realize Trumpism is the order of the day in the GOP, but maybe try to elevate the discourse a bit. It was pointed out two years ago how false some of her comments on Cobb’s legislative record were anyway.

Our rep ran her first two campaigns on “Repeal and Replace Obamacare.” The Trump Administration is in court now attempting that total repeal she ran on. That would end any protections for pre-existing conditions. Trump says you’d be protected after ACA is dead. I’m skeptical, but whatever works for you. When Trump and Stefanik unveil their “terrific” replacement plan I’ll stop carping about them. Make America Normal Again. 

The Astonishing Fantasticness of Donald Trump

I'd like to respond to Mr. Sharkey's letter about the astonishing era of Trump. "He has made good on a number of campaign promises." I thought that would surely not include The Wall. But, "He's building that wall on the southern border, too." Ironically, that same day's paper reported on Congressmen unhappy about the raiding of the Pentagon budget for just that purpose. Was it not a campaign promise, repeated ad nauseum, Mexico was going to pay for the wall? Rep. Thornberry of Texas must certainly be on the president's naughty Republican list now. It's worth a mention that a newly constructed section blew over due to high winds recently. The price of corruption?

Barack Obama's record is complete. He left an improving economy and more people with health insurance. President Trump's supporters want to give him a final grade after 3 years. He's going in the wrong direction insuring people and I haven't heard any stock market brags lately. So, the jury's out.

If I was praising Donald Trump I might stay away from the Bible quotes. There are a good number on false witness. Proverbs 19:5 is particularly appropriate. "A false witness shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lies shall not escape." That's especially true when you're false witnessing to Congress or the FBI as George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen and Roger Stone have discovered. Being punished by, God made flesh, Donald Trump are Marie Yovanovitch, Alex Vindman and others who did their duty to the American people and told the truth. The constant lies to all of us requires faith that, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward Justice."

Chicken Stretching

Good job by Rep. Stefanik of emulating President Trump. She recently mocked Tedra Cobb on Twitter over a story Cobb relates of her mother "stretching" the chicken to feed nine children. But, maybe empathy, along with honesty, has died in Trump's GOP. It's not much of a transition, though. Stefanik ran on "repeal and replace Obamacare" twice when Republicans had no idea what to replace it with. We're fast approaching the third anniversary of the debacle where they proved it. Any day now Trump should be unveiling his "terrific" plan.

I'd like to also respond to Ms. Graves' remarks on socialism. The socialism is in the house! Trump is paying billions of dollars to farmers who've lost markets due to his trade wars. There's robbing the Pentagon budget to build his wall that Mexico has yet to pay for. If that's not enough government control, there's the president's shifting a Pentagon contract from Amazon to Microsoft. Jeff Bezos is a real billionaire, a self-made one and owns the Washington Post so he must be punished. Central planning much?

Democrats don't want us to become Venezuela either. In countries like that the leader interferes with justice so his supporters receive light sentences and his foes are investigated. Sound familiar? Republican politicians have forever railed at Social Security and Medicare as socialism, too. When it comes time to pay off Trump's trillion dollar deficits incurred by tax cuts on the wealthy that's where they'll look for the money. Better get the recipe from Tedra's mom because we're all going to be "stretching" the chicken.

  

I Hope You Know That This Too Will Go Down On Your Permanent Record

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Our Elise really has become one of the brighter stars in the Trump universe. I really can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has been named to President Donald Trump’s Impeachment Defense Team, according to a news release issued on the eve of the start of the Senate trial.

I Hope You Know That This Will Go Down On Your Permanent Record

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U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is one of six New Yorkers, including four members of Congress, who have been selected honorary state chairs for President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.

We'll see how well that ages.

Defending Tedra

Link to McGrath Letter

I'm responding to Corey McGrath's criticism of Tedra Cobb. Ms. Cobb's statement was, "Our actions have long-term ramifications that have escalated tensions in the region ... Congress, and Elise Stefanik in particular, must ensure this Administration puts together a coalition of allies and exhausts all diplomatic efforts before moving forward. The lives of American troops, diplomats and innocent civilians are on the line." Sounds reasonable to me.

Mr. McGrath writes in North Country Now, "She only urged Trump to 'exhaust all diplomatic options' before 'moving forward' with the war." First, does exhausting all diplomatic options really rate an "only?" That sounds like the kind of thorough and comprehensive step that, done properly, prevents war. Second, he overlooks the call for a coalition of allies. Perhaps, it would be a group similar to the one that put together the Iran nuclear agreement that was keeping them from working toward those weapons before being abandoned. The final touch is his dishonest extraction of "moving forward" from the statement and attaching "with the war" to the end of it. There's a term I use for that: Hannitization. It's the sort of thing Sean, and his ilk, frequently does.

Mr. McGrath constructs a strawman by altering Ms. Cobb's release. He then spends the rest of his letter painting her as a warmonger. That's as dishonest as anyone who has lied us into the wars he's against. I hope he finds someone sufficiently virtuous to vote for. Meanwhile, the rest of us who are against unnecessarily going to war, and are aware that the perfect is the enemy of the good, will work to elect Tedra Cobb.

Love Nancy

Finally Submitting This Letter

This is kind of an amalgam of two letters. Maybe two are better than one?

I'm writing about Rep. Stefanik and other conspiracy theory friendly folks in the GOP. I realize she's been all up in Rep. Schiff's grill over having to follow House rules. As far as I know she hasn't said a word about Rep. Nunes pushing Russian disinformation at the hearings. That's what the "DNC server in Ukraine" fairy tale is. She herself said, "Whether Ukraine had any part in 2016, I think we still haven't gotten to the bottom fully of the complexity of the meddling in our election in 2016." As far as that country goes, we have. Tom Bossert, President Trump's former national security adviser, says the idea Ukraine was involved in the hack, "Has no validity" and "It's not only a conspiracy theory, its' completely debunked." Senate Intelligence says the same.

Is it worth remaining silent to Russian backed propaganda in order to be a star in Trump's Republican Party? Fiona Hill testified, "I would ask that you please not promote politically driven falsehoods that so clearly advance Russian interests." That didn't slow Rep. Nunes or cause Rep. Stefanik to push back on it. The people driving the "Ukraine interfered" story are Vladimir Putin, corrupt former Ukrainian government officials, President Trump and Rudy Guiliani, a portion of the Republican Party including Nunes and Senator Kennedy, and most of Fox News. Rep. Stefanik has appeared on Sean Hannity. Hannity has met few rightwing conspiracy theories he didn't push. He tormented Seth Rich's family with nonsense about their son until forced to desist.

Trump publicly asked for Russia's help in 2016. They were listening. He's asking for foreign help for another fraudulent win in 2020. Sadly, the writers of the Constitution didn't realize that if you're a star they let you get away with it.

President Clownshoes

I'm not necessarily a Biden supporter, but this is a great ad. I'm sure Dear Leader is loving it. 

Letter Draft

     I’m responding to Kim Gamache writing, “The Democrats opened a Pandora’s Box.” If a Democrat is elected president in 2020, how long before impeachment proceedings begin?” And, “There is an election in less than a year. Let the people decide.” On the latter, I have to point out that’s the election President Trump was trying to get Ukraine to influence by extorting them over aid. On the former, even the RNC realizes the House is going to stay Democratic. And by voting to condone Trump’s actions Republicans are saying it’s okay to ask foreign governments to conduct cyberespionage and make up “dirt.” That includes Rep. Stefanik when she inevitably votes with the rest of her party. If there’s a President Warren running for re-election in 2024 and wants any sort of assistance from any country against say, Nikki Haley or Tom Cotton it’s no problem. Hacked e-mails or texts. Bogus investigations begun. Republicans are normalizing it by excusing Trump. Vladimir Putin is smiling and saying "Thank God, no one is accusing us of interfering in the US elections anymore; now they're accusing Ukraine."

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     I want to mention Stefanik’s standing by while her cohorts push the “Ukraine interfered” Russian intelligence operation. It’s worth remaining silent to become a “star” in the GOP. Jim Jordan remained silent at Ohio State for what Joe Paterno lost his reputation for. Jordan is a folk hero now in today’s Republican party. A vote with Trump is ignoring his going on Fox and Friends and rambling about Crowdstrike and the DNC server. Things that can only be understood by those marinating in rightwing fever swamps. Fiona Hill’s testimony, “In the course of this investigation, I would ask that you please no promote politically driven falsehoods that so clearly advance Russian interests.” Rep. Stefanik claims her party, other than the president who's adopted the Russian line, has not denied that they interfered. Trumps' defenders are certainly working overtime to muddy the water, though.

Couple of Great Letters

Agata Stanford

Elise Stefanik has voted to strike down the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood. Her disregard for protecting our environment, or the deception she engaged in when she was allowed to vote against Trump’s Tax cuts in exchange for whipping the votes for its passing, a bill that benefited corporations and the 1%, her donors, not her constituents, or her numerous other assaults against labor, education and our financial and investment protections are available for anyone with a bit of curiosity to see by visiting the “Tracking the United States Congress” website. For her fans, the truth may be painful.

I really love this line.

Since when has corruption been quantified in acceptable amounts?

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Tanya Goldstein

Perhaps an analogy will persuade those who are so blind they will not see. One day I look and see my neighbor (for the sake of argument say we don't get along) digging in his backyard and burying a large heavy object. Also, his wife has gone missing. I call the police because something seems fishy. (I am the whistleblower.) Two police detectives begin to investigate my tip. One is my friend, one my neighbor's. (That is the congressional inquiry.) They talk to my neighbor. He says his wife is visiting relatives, and he was doing some gardening. (Trump and his "perfect" phone call.)

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Catherine Fay Roberts

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"Elise is paying a smirking misogynist slime-ball to stalk Tedra Cobb!," she tells Pinocchio. "I've seen the creep's Twitter feed. He's very pleased with himself. He never removes his sunshades. Is the law after him? What is he hiding? No woman feels safe with a guy like that following her."

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Love This Picture

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You Really Believe That?

     Overriding the fact that Rep. Stefanik sees “no quid pro quo” in the president’s statement is that she seems to believe the nonsense Ukraine server conspiracy theory. She says,“Whether Ukraine had any part in 2016, I think we still haven’t gotten to the bottom fully of the complexity of the meddling in our election in 2016.” Yes, as far as that country goes, we have. Tom Bossert, President Trump’s former national security adviser, says the idea Ukraine was involved in the hack, “Has no validity” and "It’s not only a conspiracy theory, it’s completely debunked.”

     In the call to President Zelensky, Trump says, “ I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it… The server, they say Ukraine has it.” This refers to the theory Bossert spoke of. It goes that the DNC hacked itself and fabricated the evidence that blames Russia for it. Needless to say, Russian trolls and bots are keen to push this idea. Why the president or a representative on House Intelligence is open to it is a mystery. Those who believe in this alternate reality posit the server is in Ukraine. The founder of Crowdstrike that investigated the hack, who is a Russian-born American citizen, becomes Ukrainian. Seth Rich, a DNC staffer killed by random violence, makes an appearance in some iterations.

     I’d really love to see Rep. Stefanik clarify what she meant by meddling vis a vis Ukraine. We’ve come to expect the president to take the word of foreign governments over the intelligence community. I give our congresswoman credit for not taking this nonsense seriously. Is she just doing a shout out to those who do? 

Mad Dog No More