Shut Down This Tiring Farce

Democrats want to change the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College and turn it into a "woke" document, then make impeachment into a regular political tactic where the President becomes subject to the will of the legislature. Can we keep this republic? TD

Conrad Black

The high court of the whole enfranchised nation will determine whether the president retains his office, in nine months, and this kind of unfounded assault must be discouraged, lest it become routine.

"The next step in the impeachment of the president needs to be considered in both its legal and political aspects.

"The legal issue is easily determined, is evident from the first few days of proceedings, and remains a foregone conclusion. It was obvious from the endlessly repetitive and absurdly overstated arguments of the House managers, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) in particular, that they had no legal case. There was no evidence that the president committed a high crime or misdemeanor as the Constitution requires for a president to be removed from office in such a proceeding. 
"What was alleged was not anything that could be so described, and they fell far short of proof that what they alleged even occurred. They tried to mislead the Senate and the public by splicing quotes, quoting previous witnesses out of context, and immersing their turgid presentation in a vast, confected odium that they try to spread over the president and his reputation like a lethal gas.     
"Underscoring their incandescent hatred of the president, Schiff acknowledged that Trump must be removed now to prevent his reelection, that an unnamed source had been cited by CBS who alleged Trump had told Republican senators that if they deserted him their heads would be put on pikes. Nadler accused any Republican voting to acquit the president of “treachery” and of participation in the (inevitable) “cover-up” of Trump’s crimes: again, no evidence of any probative value was adduced that he had committed the acts objected to, which were, in any case, not illegal. 
"Chief Justice John Roberts reminded Nadler of where he was, though dutifully equivocal as he is, he addressed the admonition to both sides. In two hours on Saturday morning, the president’s counsel, Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow, reduced the interminable malign verbosity of Schiff and Nadler to rubble. " . . .

"Why I haven’t said anything about Holocaust Remembrance Day", Bookworm

Bookworm Room

Holocaust Remembrance Day has become a meaningless ritual that the Western world engages in to cover for its virulent and rising anti-Semitism.

"I remember the Holocaust every day. It’s written into my DNA. 

"Every morning, when I put on my glasses or creak out of bed on my arthritic knees, I know that I would have been at the front of the line for the gas chambers.

"Every day that I whine about this little thing or that little thing, I feel guilty because I was lucky enough to be born in America and to have been born after the Holocaust.

"I am always aware of the dozens of family members who died in the camps, whether because they were Jewish or because (on the Christian side) they suffered from mental illness or were homosexuals.

"For me, every day is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

"As for the world, it’s like that line about the weather: Everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it. The same is true for the Holocaust in 2020.

"In too many parts of the Muslim world, for too many people, every day is Holocaust Rejoicing Day.

"In Europe, the grim binding together of socialism and Islam is recreating that 1930s mindset of Hitler: a socialist country with a deep, passionate, and overwhelming Jew-hatred.

"It feels as if, when many Europeans say “Never again,” they’re thinking, “If we play our cards right, never again will we have to live in a world with Jews, either in Europe or on land that the Palestinians should occupy, not the Jews.”

"The fact that the Jews have had a continuous, provable connection to the land for 3,000 years, and the fact that the so-called Palestinians are carpetbaggers and squatters with a connection to the land going back 150 years or so is irrelevant to those steeped in anti-Semitism.

"Here in America, our Democrat party is becoming a home for virulent anti-Semitism. The most celebrated women in Congress are open anti-Semites and open about their hatred for Israel. In the face of Ilhan Omar’s awful words, the most that the House could come up with was a weak statement that it hates hate. The scourge of anti-Semitism has moved from hard-left American campuses to Congress.

"So no, I don’t want to write about Holocaust Remembrance Day. It’s becoming more farcical by the minute. Talk, talk, talk, while the hatred flows in like a relentless tide."

Is the Bolton book bombshell a boom or a bust?

Ian Macfarlane

Rep. Meadows Says NYT Bolton Leak Was 'Coordinated' in Order to 'Change the Narrative'  . . . "Meadows is one of the president's staunchest allies in Congress, and on Monday he took a few shots at the suspicious timing of all of this, both on social media and directly to the press. Meadows rallied the Trump faithful with this exhortation: "Don’t buy the spin. Don’t buy the misinformed leaks. Don’t buy the predetermined narrative.' "
. . . "Later, during a press conference after the trial proceedings in the Senate had wrapped for the day, Meadows said, "This leak was designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that was to try to manipulate the thinking of my Republican colleagues in the Senate to encourage them to open it up and provide for more witnesses...." and then went on to talk about the recent history of Democrats leaking to the press. Meadows added, "My hypothesis is that this is part of a coordinated leak in order to change the narrative.' "

Where the Moderate Senators Stand on Bolton Testimony After the Book Leak
"The Senate needs to make a decision on whether or not former national security adviser John Bolton should testify in the impeachment trial against President Trump. In his new book, Bolton reportedly claims that Trump did tie the withholding of military aid to Ukraine to an investigation of the Bidens. The book leak has especially alarmed some of the more moderate Republican jurors." . . .

Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler Goes Off On Romney For Being Open To Witnesses, Says He ‘Wants To Appease The Left’  "Georgia Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler took to Twitter on Monday to criticize Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney’s recent comments on the impeachment trial in which he expressed that he’s open to calling Bolton to testify in front of the Senate.

"Loeffler sounded off on Romney, saying that he “wants to appease the left by calling witnesses,” while adding,”The circus is over. It’s time to move on!' ” . . .

Having read the report, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) believes that the jurors should be given the chance to hear from Bolton himself.   . . . "Before she was sworn in to the Senate, President Trump shared his concerns about Loeffler and reportedly wanted Rep. Doug Collins to fill the vacant seat instead. Yet, Loeffler has been squarely on the president's side during the trial, telling the Democrats last week that they already lost their case in the House." . . .

Wonder How the NYT Got the Leak From Bolton's Unpublished Book? Look Who's Reportedly Vetting It.  . . . "But now a Breitbart News report may shed some light on where the leak from the unpublished book came from.
"A source in the White House told Breitbart that Lt. Colonel Yevgeny Vindman is a senior ethics lawyer who vets materials for classified information, such as books and articles, before they're allowed to be published. Breitbart reports that Vindman vetted Bolton's book in December."
"Vindman ... Vindman... why does that name seem so familiar?
"The last time you heard of a guy named Vindman he was testifying against the president of the United States at the House impeachment inquiry. His beef? He didn't like President Trump's Ukraine policy." . . .

Biden, in his Walter Mitty Dreams,Threatens To ‘Punch’ Trump…

Joe's Walter Mitty dreams:

Joe Biden's Walter Mitty fantasy life; . . . "Yet he keeps repeating these vivid products of a nonexistent fantasy life, one that requires courage, courage he's never had, sort of like Walter Mitty, who as I recall from the story I read in high school was a bored man who led a humdrum life and imagined himself acting in heroic roles in his vivid fantasies.  That's Joe Biden, apparently, a really bored political hack who livens up his own world by repeating lies about his feats of heroism." . . .

Weasel Zippers  BIDEN: “So, folks — but you know, as much as he’s trying to destroy me and my family, I hope I demonstrated I can take a punch. And if I’m the nominee, he’s going to understand what punches mean.”

Here is Joe again; he can't threaten the man outright, but the pushup challenge is close enough for Joe:

Joy Behar Asks Holocaust Survivor Millie Baran About Kids In Cages At The US-Mexico Border

Daily Caller  . . . “ 'Millie, we just heard in the video that you had to wait over four years before you could come into this country,” Behar began.

“ 'Four and a half years,” Baran corrected. “Four and a half years. In a displaced persons camp.”
“ 'You know, some people are experiencing that right now in our country,” Behar continued, mentioning the children who were waiting either in detention facilities or in camps on the Mexican side of the border. “They’re not letting people in and it’s just tragic to me and to you I’m sure. Would you like to speak to that at all?” she asked.
“ 'Naturally,” Baran nodded. “When I saw it on television, I couldn’t believe it and my heart was aching, as a mother seeing the children were separated from their parents,” she said.
“ 'I realized who doesn’t want to come to America?” Baran continued. “The best land in the world. The lucky ones who can come here, a land of opportunity, of freedom. To us it was a dream to get here. Naturally, it was worth it to wait because when we came here I practically kissed the earth.”

Is Bolton going all Romney on us?

However, up to this point, Romney has hung in there, defying expectations of many. TD

What's Bolton up to with that new move to play Schiff's game?  . . . "I'm not inclined to be negative about Bolton, neocon as he is, because President Trump is not the easiest guy to work for and getting fired by him is no disgrace, but this has a rather bad look.
"Bolton earlier had said he didn't want to play Adam Schiff's game to Get Trump, and told the later that he'd testify as a witness for him only with a subpoena.
"Now he's practically asking to testify, just as he's got a book out with the very claims Democrats wanted to hear. What changed? He's still opting to play Adam Schiff's game with this. 
"Book timing? Publication schedule? You decide." . . .
. . . "One wants to think better of Bolton than this, but if things are as they appear, maybe it's time to put him in the #NeverTrump dustbin along with Bill Kristol and Max Boot. The money-grubbing aspect of the whole thing is ample reason all by itself is reason enough not to call witnesses as Adam Schiff slavers, because there's some funny stuff going on right now. Schiff had his chance to call Bolton and he blew it. Let Schiff stew about that." . . .

Democrats demand Bolton testify after report his book says Trump tied Ukraine aid to Biden probe  . . . "Trump addressed the report in a series of tweets Sunday night. "I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book," Trump said.
"Hill Democrats said Sunday that the new report highlighted the urgency of a Senate request for Bolton's testimony — a move that would require several GOP votes.
" 'It's up to four Senate Republicans to ensure that John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, and the others with direct knowledge of President Trump's actions testify in the Senate trial," Schumer tweeted. Mulvaney is Trump's acting chief of staff.
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that because of the report that Bolton had firsthand knowledge of Trump's decision that ran counter to the White House's account, the "refusal of the Senate to call for him, other relevant witnesses, and documents is now even more indefensible.' " . . .Did the Vindman brothers release this information?


Trump fights to stop John Bolton giving evidence to the Senate after fired national security adviser wrote in his upcoming memoir that President did link Ukraine aid to Biden probe  . . .  " 'With that being said, the transcripts of my calls with President Zelensky are all the proof that is needed, in addition to the fact that President Zelensky & the Foreign Minister of Ukraine said there was no pressure and no problems,' he continued.

" 'Additionally, I met with President Zelensky at the United Nations.....(Democrats said I never met) and released the military aid to Ukraine without any conditions or investigations - and far ahead of schedule. I also allowed Ukraine to purchase Javelin anti-tank missiles. My Administration has done far more than the previous Administration,' the President wrote in a series of tweets." . . .

President Trump STOPS Motorcade to Thank Firefighters

Youtube

A comment to this video:
"He's flawed as hell but he's clearly a good dude and his presidency has been an unmitigated success, thus far. I'm British and I have a great deal of respect for Trump and his dedication to his people. I just wish the British had someone like him"

Adam Schiff appears to be Mr. January...at least

Democrats cry foul over Schiff backlash  "Democrats are pushing back at GOP backlash over a controversial line in House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff’s (D-Calif.) closing statement in Friday night's impeachment trial arguments.
"Schiff sparked an audible reaction from Republicans when he referenced a CBS News report that cited an anonymous Trump confidant saying GOP senators' heads would be “on a pike” if they opposed President Trump on impeachment.

Republicans — including Sens. Lisa Murkowski* (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) — quickly distanced themselves, with Collins overheard repeatedly saying "that’s not true" and Murkowski saying Schiff "overreached."

"But Senate Democrats are rallying behind Schiff, accusing Republicans of faux outrage or overreacting to a few sentences in an hourlong closing statement for the House managers. 

" 'The most dangerous place in America, maybe in Washington, is to stand by the exit door at the White House because when you fall out of favor with this president, he lops off your head, throws your body in the snow and buries you in vicious tweets," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). . . "

*Who will still vote for witnesses along with Romney

Demagoguery of the Democrats  . . . It’s such an off-putting blunder that even the Times, which is seething for a conviction, reckoned that Mr. Schiff’s oration “appeared to alienate the very Republicans he was trying to win over.” The Times reported that when Mr. Schiff brought up the business about the pike, several GOP senators “vigorously shook their heads and broke their sworn silence: ‘not true.’” . . .    . . . “I hope it’s not true,” Mr. Schiff dissembled." . . .

This is an example of the rhetorical tactic of preterition — advancing a libel by denying it or, in this case, claiming to hope that it’s untrue. The trick is warned of in “The New York Sun Reporters Handbook” with a limerick: “The reporter was full of contrition / For putting him under suspicion: / ‘Far be it from me / ‘To suggest that he / ‘Is a crook.’ It was pure preterition.”

At a time when President Trump needs the support of all Republicans, conservatives, and others, N.R. gives its support to Shifty Schiff.

Quote of the month: Same Schiff, Different Dais;  "The media fawn over him, but he’s the same guy who bungled the House impeachment inquiry."
"It’s hard to say which has been more difficult to endure, Rep. Adam Schiff’s tedious and deceptive performance during the Senate impeachment trial or the emetic accolades it has received from the “news” media. By some marvelous coincidence, dozens of major news organizations were able to conjure but one word to describe it: “masterful.” Indeed, this adjective has been used so frequently by so many outlets during the past 48 hours . . ."

. . . The Fourth Estate’s fawning over Schiff’s performance during the Senate impeachment trial won’t enhance his skills as an orator and advocate, which simply don’t equal his zeal for getting President Trump. He is a masterful liar who long ago learned to control his body language and voice production such that his most outrageous lies seem plausible. Yet, as E. Donald Elliott wrote in this space Thursday, “Schiff provided absolutely no factual support for the crucial premise on which his entire case depends.” In the end, the evidence is against him and his mendacity will destroy his credibility. He’s the same Schiff on a different dais, and every senator knows it. . . .

 If the link fails to open, try this.

Dark Angel Politics

‘Blood Drained From Adam Schiff’s Face’: John Barrasso Says Schiff’s ‘Parody’ Backfired

Daily Caller  "Republican Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Saturday that House impeachment manager Adam Schiff turned pale when President Donald Trump’s defense team played video of his Ukraine call “parody.”

"Barrasso joined several of his Senate colleagues in speaking to reporters after Trump’s defense team wrapped up their opening arguments — which included a video of Schiff, in a House Intelligence Committee hearing, fabricating his own version of the July 25th phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Schiff had later dismissed the fabrication as “a parody.” . . .   (Which Rachel Maddow defended)

Today saw the premiere of two videos, each with a different vision of America

Andrea Widburg  . . . "Because videos have such a profound effect on the way in which we perceive things, it's noteworthy that two videos dropped today, both of which are getting positive buzz and both which make statements about what America is or what it could be.

"On the serious side, the GOP released a video entitled "For Democrats, It's All about Power."  The video is a compilation of all those moments when Democrats said something that made conservatives think, "Oh, my!  The commercials practically write themselves."  The ad intercuts power-hungry Democrat statements with Trump's warning to voters about the freedoms the American left wants to take from the American people.

"The Daily Wire helpfully assembled a list of the top moments included in the video, all highlighting the way in which Democrats want raw power:" . . 

A bit of snark from the Babylon Bee: Sanders Clarifies His Gulags Will Be Democratic Gulags

Antifa thugs can cite Obama as one inspiration

Antifa fights for love,

The mask slips: On a phone call, Obama called Trump a 'fascist' from the start

. . . "Three things stand out about this telling little conversation:

"One, Obama is an ideologue. Claiming that Trump is a fascist has zero, repeat zero, basis in reality. Fascists don't cut taxes and regulations, for one, fascists are all in for state takeovers of industry to start, quite similar to what was attempted in the Obama administration, actually.

"To call Trump a "fascist" is the statement of a far-left fanatic. "Fascist" is an old-time Communist Party U.S.A. epithet hurled by that crowd since the 1941 Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, derived from the USSR's party line after Hitler's betrayal of Stalin's Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of 1939. Up until that date, Communists and fascists (read: National Socialists) were pretty comfortable with one another. "Fascist" became an epithet hurled by communists all down the Comintern clientele abroad despite both sides being socialist in character. The term was then carried forward by the red diaper babies who first led the "filthy speech" movement of the early 1960s and then the "New Left" of the late 1960s, particularly in its truly crazed fringes such as the Weather Underground movement. Surprise, surprise, that was led by Obama's mentor, Bill Ayers.

"Fanatic is right. So despite that "Mr. Cool" exterior, Obama was a fanatic all along." . . .

Rich Terrell

Perjury? Schiff ‘star witness’ LTC (Mister) Vindman claimed Obama shipped lethal aid to Ukraine but…it was Trump

Stantis

Whatfinger News  "(TNS) When President Donald Trump, at the urging of his national security team, agreed to provide “lethal” assistance to Ukraine in order to assist the country in its battle against Russian-backed separatists in the east, it was a significant development.

"Trump made the decision in December 2017, which was a major policy shift from the Obama administration, which regularly threatened to send lethal aid but never did. Obama drew a couple of “red lines” that he never enforced though.

"At the time of Trump’s decision, The Hill reported:

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the administration approved the sale of Model M107A1 sniper systems and associated equipment to the country at a value of $41.5 million. The administration has not yet moved to approve sales of heavier arms requested by Ukraine’s government, including Javelin anti-tank missiles.

"The move from the White House is a departure from the Obama administration, which frequently condemned Russian aggression in the Ukraine but refused to approve the sale of arms to the country’s Western-aligned government.

"So there’s that.

"Why, then, would one of Adam Schiff’s star witnesses in his secret squirrel impeachment inquiry hearings testify to the opposite?" . . .