Fully Automatic Media

The next time you read a denunciation of Mark Zuckerberg for his maddening refusal to censor Trump ads on Facebook, remember: The Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville was safer than the average Caribbean Day parade. The media want to make sure you have no way of knowing that.

Ann Coulter  "The tedium of the impeachment trial has at least allowed me to catch up on my reading. Apparently, there was a peaceful gun rights rally in Virginia last week that had the media in a panic.

"Today, I will explain how their hysteria about the gun rally is directly related to their hysteria about the Russians throwing the 2016 election with Facebook ads -- or, as MSNBC's Brian Williams put it, using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter "to turn Americans against one another, psychological and information warfare, that didn't stop with the election."
"First, the moral panic on guns:

“ 'Virginia's capital braces for gun-rights rally” -- The Associated Press“New fears tied to a pro-gun rally that's scheduled in Virginia” -- NBC News
“A gun rights rally in Richmond on MLK Day has people fearing a repeat of Charlottesville” -- Richmond Times Dispatch
As we have come to expect, the “newspaper of record,” The New York Times, bested them all:
“Virginia Capital on Edge as F.B.I. Arrests Suspected Neo-Nazis Before Gun Rally”

"Wow -- neo-Nazis! Wait, what did the arrest of “neo-Nazis” have to do with the Virginia gun rally?
"Not a thing, it turns out.
""The FBI had arrested three white guys with guns in another state the week before the rally. One of the men was an illegal alien from Canada. Three of the four charges against the men had to do with his immigration status.

"What does the arrest of an illegal alien and his accomplices in Maryland have to do with a gun rally in Virginia? As the Times explained, “Although the charges were not directly linked to the Richmond rally, law enforcement officials said the three men had discussed attending it.”
"Here's an idea for you, New York Times. Every time an African American is arrested for some infamous crime, cite that arrest in a headline claiming that people are “on edge” about a coming NAACP convention -- or maybe a meeting of black scientists.
"“Virginia Capital on Edge as F.B.I. Arrests R. Kelly Before NAACP Convention” (Just say Kelly had "discussed attending it"!)
"The media are liars, and they know they’re liars. We’ve been having gun rights rallies forever, and they’ve never turned into murderous bacchanals. How about some flood-the-zone coverage of Big Foot sightings?" . . .  More...

So E. Jean Carroll left an unwashed dress in her closet for 25 years?

Both by Mike Harris

Monica Showalter "E. Jean Carroll, with her hard-to-believe story about being assaulted or raped (her accounts vary) in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room by one Donald Trump a quarter-century ago, isn't going away quietly.

"She's gotten her attorneys to send a demand to Trump to hand over a DNA sample so she can check if it's his male DNA that's still on the dress she claims to have worn, according to lab tests."

 First the Washington Post, then Here's the Axios account, which has more details:

. . . "She lost further credibility when she made a television appearance on Anderson Cooper's CNN program, focusing on President Trump's denial that he knew her, and not confirming Cooper's assertion that they knew each other.  She made it clear that what she really wanted was an affirmation that she was indeed attractive at one time, a pretty desperate thing, not the thing you want to be talking about if your purpose is to accuse someone of a crime, something that raises questions about whether something consensual went on, which Cooper did not pursue.  At the end, she declared rape "sexy," something CNN figured it had to cut her off on, given the credibility blow.  I wrote about that here." . . .

. . . "What leaps out at me from this is how disorderly this whole thing seemed. She kept an unwashed dress for thirty years in her closet, never taking it to the dry cleaner's? She was a fashionista, a fashion magazine editor, if it was a favorite dress, she'd have it dry cleaned. She didn't dry clean her clothes? And thirty years piled on? What kind of closet did she really have? 

"It's probably not the biggest point, but it's indicative of something kind of disorderly going on, probably consistent with the rest of her shambling account. What kind of woman leaves a fancy black dress uncleaned in her closet for 30 years?

"Probably someone trying to sell a book and trying to best Michael Avenatti in the 'bizarre attacks on Trump' sweepstakes."

Democrats who once abandoned her now use her in the 2020 campaign The same old Kavanaugh script.

June 2019: E. Jean Carroll loses more credibility ... and CNN tries to cover it up, twice
. . . "Obviously, the network that tried to foist Michael Avenatti on us as president earlier is not about to get into reporting for wherever the facts lead. Here's what they have up." . ..

Mike Harris

Mitt Romney: just who IS the man, anyway?

Image by Timothy Bishop  "Willard": "A young man with an unusual connection to rats
 uses them at his own sociopathic will."

After Impeachment Romney Turned On Trump – Mitt’s Own State Is Turning Against Him, His Approval Sinks  . . . "Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney lost support from Republicans and independents in his home state during the weeks after he called for witnesses in President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial…
"The poll shows the senator’s approval rating falling among Utah Republicans from September through December 2019, and independents also shifted to disapproving of Romney over the quarter.
"Ouch. After Mitt Romney voiced support for the Democrats’ impeachment trial scheme, his approval among Utah Republicans and independents dropped.
"Let’s be honest, this is not just about his statement on witnesses. The lines are pretty much drawn over impeachment." . . .

From the NY Times back in 2018: A New Mitt or the Same Old Weenie?

. . . "After Trump was nominated, Romney swore he’d never vote for him, although he backed off the obvious alternative of Hillary Clinton. No, Mitt was a proud and useless Mystery Vote*, musing about the relative advantages of going with the Libertarian or writing in his wife.When Trump won, Romney reappeared in a third incarnation, as the Secretary-of-State-in-Waiting who dined out with the president-elect, burbling about his “message of inclusion.” Then it became clear Trump was just dangling the nomination for the fun of seeing his old enemy leap up and down trying to grab it. No Cabinet Mitt.  . . . *Emphasis added by TD 

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."