Failure of the Democrats’ Bloodless Assassination Attempt

 Conrad Black

The Democrats will have to give up their pretense of playing moral custodians of the national virtue against a monster who has usurped and abused power. They will have to try to find a presentable nominee from the puny harvest of their declared candidates to run against the incumbent fair and square.

"This most absurd and irresponsible of all assaults on the presidency in America’s rich history of low political chicanery is now down to a desperate gamble by the Democrats.

Democrats cannot possibly sustain the argument that they should have witnesses, whom they failed to call among the 17 they had in the House of Representatives (which they control) but the Republican Senate majority cannot call witnesses on behalf of the president.
"Peggy Noonan, the most believable of the media Trump-bashers because she is such a generally fair-minded person, proposed on January 25 in the Wall Street Journal that the Democrats call John Bolton, who they know would be a hostile witness against the president, and Mick Mulvaney, who could continue to explain his unforgivable butchery of an answer to a reasonable press question about political influence on foreign aid. In return, Noonan offered generously, the Republicans could call Joe Biden—who would then complete his flameout as a candidate or make a brilliant defense and clinch the nomination—and Rudy Giuliani, so the Democrats could try the Lev Parnas case for their own delectation. (Parnas is an indicted former associate of Giuliani negotiating his plea bargain.)
"This is fairness according to Peggy Noonan: a perfect bipartisan solution of four home-run witnesses for the Democrats and four prearranged strikeouts for the Republicans.
"Not even such a fatuous scenario as this would alter the outcome: there is no probative evidence that the president did what he is accused of doing, and what he is accused of is not illegal, not impeachable, and the entire episode is an outrage and a disgrace. As anti-Trump law professor Jonathan Turley testified at the House Judiciary Committee in December, the abuse of power that has occurred has been the impeachment of the president, not any act by the president that has come to light." . . .

A few pros and cons on the witness issue.

Rich Terrell

Key GOP Senator Announces Impeachment Witness Vote. Game Over?
. . . "The retiring Tennessee senator, who has nothing to gain (or lose) politically with his vote, announced on Twitter that "there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the U.S. Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense.' " . . .
Why doesn't this logic affect the position of the Utah Weathervane?
. . . "Alexander's decision all but guarantees that the impeachment trial will conclude this weekend with a vote to acquit the president because, despite the defection of Sen. Susan Collins, who announced Thursday night that she will vote to call more witnesses, Republicans will likely have enough votes to block the motion. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have yet to announce how they will vote, but it is thought their votes will not be needed." . . . Sen. Collins, not so much

Lindsey Graham Schools Democrats Over Impeachment Witness Debate

. . . "According to Graham, that is one of the most ridiculous claims being thrown out there by Democrats. On Thursday, Graham took to Twitter to address this oft-repeated claim by Democrats and prove how ridiculous it is.

“FACT: It was the House of Representatives who refused to pursue the testimony of the witnesses because they wanted to impeach the President before Christmas,” he explained. “Only in Washington would someone call that decision ‘Blocking Witnesses.’”

. . . "Impeachment may be over on Saturday, but make no mistake, the Democrats aren't done trying to undermine President Trump." . . .

Should Republican senators want witnesses?  . . . "In a courtroom, the prevailing theory would be to end the trial and celebrate acquittal. If you’re winning, there’s no need to take any risks.  But this is an impeachment trial and there are political implications. Senate Republicans are seemingly not considering the political benefits of calling witnesses, their only goal seems to be acquittal, as if this were a standard criminal trial. 

"The past few days have made it abundantly clear: the first witness for Democrats would be President Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton and the Republicans' highest priority witness would be Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden.  If these witnesses are called, the next phase would allow Republicans to run away with the lead." . . . 

. . . "Consider the downside for Republicans if additional witnesses aren’t called.  If Bolton doesn’t speak in front of the Senate, the Democrats would accuse Republicans of a cover-up throughout the election season.  Bloomberg ads would ask what Republicans are hiding, and accuse Republicans of blocking witnesses without any regard for bipartisanship.  Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren would ask why their Republican Senate colleagues don’t want to hear the whole truth.  The eventual Democrat nominee will bring a copy of Bolton’s new book with them everywhere, quoting it in stump speeches and mentioning it at campaign rallies.  Republicans can prevent these talking points by letting Bolton air his grievances now, 10 months before the election. 

"With witnesses, Republicans can continue their winning streak by exposing the Bidens.  The GOO can avoid the Democrat talking point that loose ends remain. Republicans have a winning argument, so they should prolong the platform on which they can argue it.  The GOP has an opportunity to run up the score, and they would be wise to do exactly that."

Wise counsel, but I do not believe this wisdom is a factor in Romney's decision. TD

Joe is as abrasive as Trump, but Trump doesn't brandish his fists. Updated 1/31

Joe Biden insults another Iowa voter

Joe Biden in The Onion  "The Onion's portrayal of Joe Biden is a satirical caricature of Joe Biden, who was the 47th Vice President of the United States between 2009 and 2017. Also known as "Diamond Joe" or "Uncle Joe", . . . The Onion portrayed Biden as a blue-collar "goofy uncle", a muscle car driver, a raucous party animal, a petty criminal, and even a drug-dealing gang member. The character became one of The Onion's most popular creations of the Obama era, garnering critical acclaim and large numbers of page views." . . .

". . . Shortly after Biden announced his 2020 presidential campaign, former Onion editor Joe Garden penned an op-ed expressing regret over the publication's largely apolitical, uncritical portrayal of the character. While Garden maintained that the Onion's Biden had been funny, he expressed concern that it had drawn attention away from the politician's record. The Onion briefly revived the "Diamond Joe" version of Biden in its coverage of the 2020 Democratic primaries, but has since dropped it in favor of satirizing real-world developments in the politician's campaign and aspects of Biden's personality." . . . 

UPDATE: Joe Biden insults another Iowa voter   Watch it here:

. . . He said he was surprised that Biden told him to vote for someone else.
"I did not expect to be told to leave, to go vote for somebody else, then to be lectured about," Fallon said.
The video also showed Biden pressing on Fallon's chest, poking him with a finger and grabbing his jacket with two hands.
"It was not appropriate interaction with anybody," Fallon said. "I mean, if I'd done that to him, the security would have been all over me." . . .

Mark Steyn blasts Don Lemon, CNN panel for mocking Trump supporters

"Don Le-mahn"? Oh well.

YouTube

Don Lemon Gives World’s Worst Non-Apology After His Panel Bashing Trump Supporters "Under fire for a hideous panel in which he and his guests mocked Trump supporters (which the RNC turned into an ad), CNN host Don Lemon issued THE worst non-apology Tuesday.

"He took no responsibility for allowing his guest to trash half the country or for participating and instead said that he didn’t hear everything and was just laughing at the joke… which makes zero sense.

"Lemon said:" , , ,  Video

“And one final note that I have for you because this is personally important for me to address this, ok? Anyone, ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you — I don’t believe in belittling people, belittling anyone for who they are, for what they believe or where they’re from. During an interview on Saturday night, one of my guests said something that made me laugh and while in the moment I found that joke humorous and I didn’t catch everything that was said. Just to make this perfectly clear — I was laughing at the joke and not at any group of people.”

Fired Ukrainian Prosecutor Files Federal Complaint Against Biden, Charging He 'Abused His Power'

Abuse of Power? Well, son of a ...... "it's quite clear that if more witnesses are ultimately called, Viktor Shokin should be brought in too." . . .

PJ Media

"Multiple sources have confirmed a report by French news site Les Crises that former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin has filed a complaint with Ukraine’s National Bureau of Investigation this week demanding an investigation be launched against  Joe Biden, who successfully pressured the Ukrainian government to fire him and protect Burisma Holdings, the company his son Hunter sat on the board of, making $83,000/month, despite having no experience related to their business.

"Shokin alleges in his filing that Biden orchestrated his ouster as prosecutor general in order to prevent the completion of his investigation of the notoriously corrupt natural gas company, Burisma Holdings." . . .
. . . "Shokin cited as evidence the publicly available video of Joe Biden bragging about the quid pro quo, which ultimately got him fired. In his complaint, Shokin elaborated on Biden's efforts to have him removed." . . .
. . . "Donald Trump was impeached by House Democrats for suggesting that the corruption of Burisma and the Bidens ought to be looked at by Ukraine. Shokin's filing gives Republicans even more ammo to say that Hunter Biden is a relevant witness for the impeachment trial. In fact, I think it's quite clear that if more witnesses are ultimately called, Viktor Shokin should be brought in too." . . .

Christine Pelosi: The Nancy Pelosi Way

http://www.terrellaftermath.com/

The Commonwealth Club  "Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) is one of the most successful leaders to ever wield the gavel as speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Under her leadership, Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act and are now championing a for the people agenda. People have spent a lifetime studying how Pelosi uses power and negotiation, but no one understands her better than her own daughter Christine Pelosi.

"In her new book, The Nancy Pelosi Way: Advice on Success, Leadership, and Politics from America’s Most Powerful Woman, Christine Pelosi teaches us the wisdom and advice she learned firsthand from the most powerful woman in American history. She examines how her mother rose through the ranks of government and extracts key lessons in leadership for us to apply to our own lives." . . .  

In San Francisco, the smell of poop overpowered by the stench of leftist corruption

"One-party blue city San Francisco has a corruption problem.

"Turns out the sewage on the streets isn't the only thing filthy about San Francisco.  Its man in charge of that clean-up, Mohammed Nuru, was busted with a septic tank full of corruption charges." . . .

From Snopes: Does a Meme Show U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s District in San Francisco?

Wrong! It actually pictures San Jose, CA! 
"However, the picture above was not taken in San Francisco. It’s a Reuters image taken at a homeless encampment in San Jose, California, which is about 55 miles southeast of San Francisco. Pelosi does not represent San Jose (the city lies in the district of another Democratic congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren).
"Although the meme was originally posted on March 27, 2018, it continued to circulate as of this writing. According to the Reuters caption, the photograph was taken on Dec. 4, 2014, just before authorities dismantled the encampment.
"According to The Mercury News, the encampment, which was once home to roughly 300 homeless people, has since been transformed into a nature reserve." . . .

Some Twitter posts defended Trump’s characterization of the city, calling the city “America’s toilet” and referring to one entrepreneur’s app that helps users send pictures of street waste to San Francisco’s public waste department.
Photos of SF streets

Romney, the weathervane

Pierre Delecto would like you to know how important he is On impeachment, Mitt Romney has thrown a spanner in the works.  What looked like a speedy scrapping of the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, premised on Democrats beclowning themselves, is now on hold.
 . . . "It's nothing but a bid to Get Trump, on the Democrats' terms, an ego trip, from the big wounded ego of Pierre Delecto, no less, and look big and powerful doing it.

"Romney seems to be banking on the idea that if he can just knock out Trump and stick to it, he'll somehow be the big dog on the block." . . .

Club for Growth accuses Romney of siding with Democrats in new ad  "The conservative Club for Growth is going after Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) in a new television ad, accusing the first-term senator and former GOP presidential nominee of siding with Democrats in President Trump’s impeachment proceedings.
“ 'There’s Mitt Romney threatening to vote with Democrats again to trot out spotlight-seeking blowhards who will trash President Trump on the witness stand,” a narrator says in the 30-second spot, which is set to begin airing on Fox News on Thursday in Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.
"The ad also accuses Romney of ignoring alleged wrongdoing by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter." . . .

Fight over Bolton gives Romney a chance for Senate clout  . . . "Utah is polarized over Trump, but not between Republicans and Democrats. Even as “Never Trumpers” have faded nationally, a strong current of discomfort with the president remains in polite, immigrant-welcoming Utah." . . .

Sen. Mitt Romney Says ‘Very Likely’ He’ll Favor Calling Witnesses in Impeachment 
Trial

In 2011 Huntsman calls Romney a “perfectly lubricated weather vane” on important daily issues

. . . WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Let’s first of all talk about Mitt Romney a little bit. George Will, the conservative columnist, writing in an upcoming edition of “The Washington Post,” says this about Mitt Romney. He says: “Romney, supposedly the Republican most electable next November, is a recidivist reviser of his principles who is not only becoming less electable, he might endanger GOP chances of capturing the Senate. Republicans may have found their Michael Dukakis, a technocratic Massachusetts governor who takes his bearings from data.”
You agree with — with George Will on that?
JON HUNTSMAN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, those are — those are pretty tough words, Wolf. All I can say is this is a time when this nation wants leadership. We’ve — we — we’ve been — we’ve been looking for leadership for some time in — in the White House. We haven’t found it. This is when the candidates need to show — stand up and show a little bit of leadership. You can’t be a perfectly lubricated weathervane on the important issues of the day, whether it’s Libya, whether it’s the debt ceiling, whether it’s the discussion around the Kasich bill in Ohio, where Governor Romney has been missing in action in terms of showing any kind of leadership.  . . .

Don Lemon Did Trump a Huge Favor

Katherine Timpf at National Review

“Just to make it perfectly clear,” he added. “I was laughing at the joke and not at any group of people.”

His performance in that segment is going to be a way bigger help to the incumbent president than anything that Trump could ever do for himself.

"A  video of CNN news anchor Don Lemon laughing hysterically as his guests mocked Donald Trump’s supporters went viral this week — and it couldn’t have been a more effective campaign ad for the president.

"In the video, which was clipped from a live broadcast that aired on Saturday night, Lemon can be seen crying tears of laughter, and at one point even slamming his head on his desk, because he’s apparently so overwhelmed with joy and amusement.

"It all started after one guest, ex-GOP strategist Rick Wilson, joked that Trump would be too stupid to find Ukraine on a map, before calling Trump’s supporters the “credulous boomer rube demo.”

"Lemon laughed heartily, and so Wilson continued his mocking:

“‘Donald Trump’s the smart one — and y’all elitists are dumb!’” Wilson said in a heavy, stereotypical southern accent." . . .

CNN Panel Mocking Trump Supporters Now an RNC Ad

Legal Insurrection

“They think you’re a joke.”

"Tuesday, Professor Jacobson blogged about one of THE most tone-deaf cable news segments I’ve ever seen. (See the CNN video)  A CNN panel hosted by Don Lemon, billing Rick Wilson, (a former Republican political consultant who sold his soul to the NeverTrump brigade and now poses as a token “Republican” on CNN and MSNBC to trash actual Republicans and right-leaning folk) were overcome with fits of laughter while mocking Trump and Trump supporters as bassackwards hillbillies, ignoramuses, and simpletons.

"They still don’t get it. Clearly." . . .

"It also perfectly captures the microcosm of coastal media and Trump Derangement Syndrome who have learned nothing, nada, zip from 2016.

"Anyway, shortly thereafter the good folks manning the RNC digital front cut the segment, spliced it with the Democrat presidential candidates saying similarly disparaging nonsense, and outside of dramatic intros and outros, added one pithy little statement — “They think you’re a joke.' ”

100%FedUp: Priceless Republican Ad Blasts CNN’s Don Lemon for Mocking Trump Supporters: “Prove them wrong in November”

What that CNN clip of Don Lemon, Rick Wilson, and Wajahat Ali tells us about the election ahead

Don Lemon is actually the stupidest man on television, as Mark Levin often remarks, so no one expects anything other than rank infantile behavior from him.  He is a child in an adult body and fortunately has no children.

When it comes to the self-styled Democrat 'elite,' they hate you, they really hate you

. . . "College also used to teach people how to be "ladies" and "gentlemen."  This was a set of skills that envisioned good manners and decency.  When was the last time you saw a Leftist media figure display either?  Heck, even Marie Antoinette was reputed to have said, "Let them eat cake" rather than "They're too stupid to eat cake."

"So no, we're not offended by the video.  We're impressed by the arrogance and ignorance it displays.  And to paraphrase Liberace, we'll be laughing all the way to the polls."

With several Republicans apparently succumbing on impeachment witnesses, Mitch McConnell may need to go ‘nuclear’

Legal Insurrection

McConnell needs to go nuclear. Mutually Assured Destruction nuclear on witnesses — the Bidens or bust.

"The Wall Street Journal reports that Mitch McConnell has told Republican Senators that he does not have the votes to block witnesses:

… at a meeting of all Republican senators late Tuesday, GOP leaders told their conference that they don’t currently have the votes to prevent witnesses from being called, people familiar with the matter said. Republicans had hoped to wrap up the trial with an acquittal of the president by this week, but Democrats have said he should appear under oath to offer a firsthand account of the president’s motivations for freezing aid to Ukraine—a matter at the heart of the impeachment case.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said the vote total wasn’t where it needed to be on blocking witnesses or documents, these people said. He had a card with “yes,” “no,” and “maybes” marked on it, apparently a whip count, but he didn’t show it to senators.

"As detailed many times, the entire Democrat strategy has been to Kavanaugh the hearings, to call witnesses the House never called in order to turn the trial into a circus in which the process becomes the punishment.

"The House impeachment was in bad faith, and the Kavanaughing of the hearings also is bad faith. That four Republican Senators may succumb to these tactics speaks volumes about the weakness of Republicans.

"We knew it would be close, but it looks like there may be only one choice for McConnell.

Even Mitt Romney, the first link to break, has said that he thinks calling witnesses should be reciprocal. That means Joe and Hunter Biden, at minimum. But calling the Bidens in exchange for calling John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney has been rejected by Democrats.

"So McConnell’s way out it to force Democrats to reject a witness deal. That way, "Democrats are the ones responsible for no new witnesses. It provides cover to people like Susan Collins who may be concerned how voting against witnesses my impact their reelection chances.

"McConnell needs to go nuclear. Mutually Assured Destruction nuclear on witnesses — the Bidens or bust."

 

White House Counsel Concludes Argument By Playing Video of Democrats Attacking Impeachment

Breitbart  White House Counsel Pat Cipollone concluded opening arguments in the president’s defense in the Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday afternoon by playing video clips of Democrats arguing against President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998.
"Some of those Democrats — such as Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) — are among the House managers urging the Senate to remove Trump from office. Others — such as then-Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) — are now in the Senate themselves.
"Cipollone focused on excerpts from congressional speeches in which Democrats denounced the idea of a partisan impeachment, likening it to a “coup d’état,” and warning that it would lead them to impeach a Republican president when they were in office.

"The White House counsel concluded: “You were right.” The Senators laughed. He then continued: “[B]ut I’m sorry to say you were also prophetic.”
"Cipollone concluded:
“ 'I have every confidence in your wisdom, you will do the only thing you can do, what you must do, what the Constitution compels you to do: Reject these articles of impeachment.”
"The White House then ended its opening arguments — having only used half of its allotted time, with 12 hours to spare.
"The next two days will involve eight hours of written questions submitted by Senators to the Chief Justice, with oral answers by lawyers for both sides, restricted to five minutes each."

Undoing the Dis-Education of Millennials

 Boston Post

"I teach in a law school. For several years now my students have been mostly Millennials. Contrary to stereotype, I have found that the vast majority of them want to learn. But true to stereotype, I increasingly find that most of them cannot think, don’t know very much, and are enslaved to their appetites and feelings. Their minds are held hostage in a prison fashioned by elite culture and their undergraduate professors.
"They cannot learn until their minds are freed from that prison. This year in my Foundations of Law course for first-year law students, I found my students especially impervious to the ancient wisdom of foundational texts, such as Plato’s Crito and the Code of Hammurabi. Many of them were quick to dismiss unfamiliar ideas as “classist” and “racist,” and thus unable to engage with those ideas on the merits. So, a couple of weeks into the semester, I decided to lay down some ground rules. I gave them these rules just before beginning our annual unit on legal reasoning.
"Here is the speech I gave them.
********************************
"Before I can teach you how to reason, I must first teach you how to rid yourself of unreason. For many of you have not yet been educated. You have been dis-educated. To put it bluntly, you have been indoctrinated. Before you learn how to think you must first learn how to stop unthinking.
"Reasoning requires you to understand truth claims, even truth claims that you think are false or bad or just icky. Most of you have been taught to label things with various “isms” which prevent you from understanding claims you find uncomfortable or difficult.
"Reasoning requires correct judgment. Judgment involves making distinctions, discriminating. Most of you have been taught how to avoid critical, evaluative judgments by appealing to simplistic terms such as “diversity” and “equality.' ” . . .