Glenn Kirschner – AG Garland Signals DOJ Will hold the “Powerless & Powerful” Accountable for Crimes of January 6
Meidas Touch David Pepper dissects how the GOP is DESTROYING democracy
The Lincoln Project – Last Week Year in the Republican Party
Really American – January 6 – Dress Rehearsal To Overthrow America
VoteVets – Generals – and “True blue.”
Wild Groundhog Won’t Let Woman Go Home Without Her
Beau – Let’s talk about newly disclosed information about the 6th….
Yesterday, the new modem arrived. I didn’t install it because I read the directions (what kind ofperson does that, for heaven’s sake?) and they said it would not be activated until 5 pm today. So, I figured better slow internet than none at all. I still managed to gt two posts up for today and Erinyes ready to post tomorrow with two clicks.
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
Daily Beast – Liz Cheney Torches Trump on Fox News
Quote – After praising speeches marking the anniversary from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris earlier in the day, Cheney quickly pivoted to attacking Trump. “This was a mob that was summoned by and provoked by the president of the United States in an effort to stop the counting of electoral votes, which is a Constitutional process,” she said, explaining how the events of January 6 were different from the outside threats that hit America in the cases of 9/11 or Pearl Harbor.
Click through for more, including a video. I think that the Committee is doing thiings exactly right, and that includes Liz. No Republican will listen to a Democrat, not will they listen to Kinzinger, who is leaving Congress (redistricted out.) But Liz is not going anywhere, and she can always trot out her dad, to demonstrate even an old-school war criminal Republican approves of her stand, as she did at the Capitol Thursday. [She and Dick were the only two Republicans present.]
Mother Jones – Merrick Garland Issues Dire Warning About Voting Rights on Eve of January 6
Quote – In his speech, Garland referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder, which gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act and eliminated the provision barring historically discriminatory jurisdictions from altering voting laws without preclearing those changes with the DOJ. Without new legislation to restore those powers, Garland implied, the department lacks the proper tools to protect the right of every American to vote.
Click through for story. So far, Noah and I appear to be the only ones who actually grasped that warning. Given what Republicans are doing, we could win every Congressional, Senatorial, and Gubernatorial race by a margin of 75-25, and still have all the races in red states overturned. And if that happens, it’s game over.
CNN – Manhattan district attorney announces he won’t prosecute certain crimes
Quote – His office will focus on accountability, he said, not sentence length. “Research is clear that, after a certain length, longer sentences do not deter crime or result in greater community safety,” he said, adding that his department will expand its use of “restorative justice programming.”
Click through, with the caveat that CNN is not impressed, and the police and the police union are losing their solid waste. Mr. Bragg has the right priorites. At least the mayor is kinds sorta behind him. All Bragg is saying is “We’re going to treat people of color like white people (and LBGTQ like we treat cis peole, etc.” And that’s what has all those panties in a knot.
Food For Thought:
Glenn Kirschner – Peter Navarro Joins the Ranks of Trump’s Co-Conspirators; Garland Set to Discuss Jan 6 Investigation
Meidas Touch – Ron DeSantis struggles to breathe, gasps for air in shocking new video (I don’t think it’s all that obvious myself, but it is there … so soon after he “disappeared” for five days.)
The Lincoln Project – Closer Than You Think I
CBS – Representative Jamie Raskin talks January 6 and son’s death ahead of Capitol attack anniversary
Really American – Democrats Shown To Be True Supporters Of Police (Don’t miss the almost buried punchline, starting with “Ask…”)
Liberal Redneck – Review of Senator Ted Cruz
Beau – Let’s talk about Garland’s speech….
Yesterday, I struggled with the Internet, but managed to get posts up for today. For tomorrow, I may just put up some lightweight articles (and videos) in order to spend as much time as possibble doing non-Internet stuff – like making some new cartoons. If the new modem comes as promised tomorrow, and particularly if it comes early, I’ll be able to do more.
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
The 19th – ‘We almost lost our democracy’: How 38 women in Congress want you to remember January 6
Quote – Though The 19th tried repeatedly to reach lawmakers from both parties, only Democrats responded. Last year, 147 Republicans objected to certifying the election results. Many of the Democrats we spoke to said the tension between lawmakers, in part stemming from that day and the denial of the lawful election, as well as dispute over how to investigate it, has made working across the aisle harder than ever.
Click through for all 38. Just some of them: Demings, Jayapal, Duckworth, Hirono, Dingell, Klobuchar,
NM Political Report – Crisis pregnancy centers are a public health danger, according to a report
Quote – CPCs offer some basic, nonmedical services for pregnant people but are intentionally designed to lure unsuspecting pregnant individuals into their offices to prevent abortions, reproductive health experts have said. According to the report, CPCs use “deceptive, coercive tactics and medical disinformation and misleadingly present themselves as medical facilities.”
Click through. Another one to file under “No shit, Sherlock.” But it’s good they are paying attention, at least.
DOJ official transcript of Garland speech
Quote – In charging the perpetrators, we have followed well-worn prosecutorial practices. Those who assaulted officers or damaged the Capitol face greater charges. Those who conspired with others to obstruct the vote count also face greater charges. Those who did not undertake such conduct have been charged with lesser offenses — particularly if they accepted their responsibility early and cooperated with the investigation.
Click through for full text (much better than what I had so far. I had only corrected the spacing, hadn’t even started on captalization, punctuation, or paragraphing.)
Food For Thought:
This could explain a lot:
Glenn Kirschner – Bipartisan Jan. 6 Committee Investigates Trump w/Clear-Eyed Determination and Purpose of Mission
Meidas Touch – Michael Cohen recalls when Trump offered up Don Jr. for prison over Ivanka (you may have seen this information in print)
The Lincoln Project – Navarro
Don Winslow – #DonaldTrumpLovesAntifa (TeeHee)
No Dem Left Behind – Richard Ojeda on the Trump Crime Family
Vote Vets – Brig.Gen.(Ret.) Steven Anderson On ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ Discussing Ongoing Insurrection Threat
Beau – Let’s talk about how the US and China’s contest will end….
Yesterday, I ran through all the online diagnostics before calling CenturyLink, and I’m glad I did so. I have had my current modem for more than 9 years, and it’s been obsolete for a while now. So I really have no right to complain. I checked out the current models available, and discovered that one of the three newest models is made by the same manufacturer as my old one, and the cord array looks exactly the same, so I can install it easily – no need to brinf a tech to the house in plague time. I’m expected to get it Saturday. Meantime, I have found a flow which will enable me to work faster by moving slower, so I will make it until (probably not without some colorful language in the process, though.)
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
The New Yorker (Borowitz – NOT THE NEWS!) Sean Hannity Informs January 6th Panel that Swearing to Tell the Truth Would Violate His Contract with Fox
Quote – In a written statement, Hannity said that taking an oath “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” would be “a betrayal of the solemn vow I made to Fox. +The members of the committee would no doubt require me to swear on a Bible,” he said. “However, I answer to a higher power: Rupert Murdoch.”
Click through if you aren’t paywalled out. Sounds like straight news to me (but I did LOL.)
Trump called her an ‘incredible woman,’ but Ashli Babbitt was a Q-nut with a violent past
Quote – Norris’ first encounter with Babbitt took place on July 29, 2016, when Norris says Babbitt rammed her SUV in a road-rage incident in Prince Frederick, Maryland. “She pulls up yelling and screaming,” Norris told AP. “It took me a good 30 seconds to figure out who she was. … Just all sorts of expletives, telling me to get out of the car, that she was going to beat my ass.”
Click through for backstory. I don’t say “full” because there is undoubteedly more to be learned. I would also call her incredible – but NOT as a compliment!
Merrick Garland speech – Assuming this would be the major topic everyome would be interested in, I listened to it. Twice. The second time with a YouTube video which has CC and therefore I could download a transcript (how good remains to be seen,) and I will figure out a way to make that available – that one, or a better one if someone beats me to it. But, to summarize, he said –
We are working on it and we won’t stop until we get everyone. If I told you any more, it would jeopardize the investigation (DOJ policy, based on experience and best practices.) We started at the bottom and are working our way up, and that is reflected in sentincing (which by implication will go up with the involvement of the offender – also best practices.) We are also working on voting rights (if the investigation takes too long, we are going to need voting rights as we never have before.) We are also working on death threats, (and you wouldn’e believe how many of those there are, and how many categories of people who have received them.) The time to deal with threats is when they are issued, not after a tragedy. First Amendment rights are important, but “protests” like 1/6 and death threats are not protected. (I thought it was clever of him to quote Scalia to support that instead of a more liberal justice, and it was a good quote.) Bottom line: We know how critical the investigation of 1/6 is for the survival of democracy, and we don’t intend to let anyone skate. We are working as hard as we can, that’s all we can tell you, so please get off our back and let us do our job.
Food For Thought:
Glenn Kirschner – From Trump DOJ Official Pleading the 5th to Congress on Cusp of Subpoenaing its Own: December Recap
Meidas Touch – Michael Cohen thinks Jan 6 text leaks are not what they appear (and he has some good points)
The Lincoln Project – In Their Words
NBC News – Remembering Those We Lost in 2021 – I said I was dreading this, but it’s worth knowing (Yes, Betty White died on December 31, but they made this on the 31st before the news got out.)
Really American – Trump To Deliver DANGEROUS Speech On January 6 (he has wimped out, though)
Woman Adopts Grandparents’ Grumpy Cat
Beau – Let’s talk about human rights or constitutional rights….
Monday, some things happened after I scheduled the post, and what with the computer, I didn’t get them in to yesterday’s post. Probably the main thing is that Governor Polis has imposed a two-week moratorium on prison visiting. That is sad, but also good. Safety is the most important thing at this point. Also, I have a prescription to pick up which I ordered delivered. The original order disappeared, and I had to call, and that detail got missed. I’d get help picking it up, but they’re close and have a sealed drive-up window. So yesterday I donned an N95 and gloves and picked it up at the window. And I also heard from WWWendy WW. She is still involved in settling TC’s estate (no surprise to anyone who has ever dealt with an estate, I’m sure). But she has also experienced the death of another very close friend. I am still having trouble with the computer, to the point where the video thread will be short today. I’m pretty sure my modem is obsolete and I will need a new one, but before I could get to CenturyLink on the phone, it was too late for a human being. So, today.
Cartoon –
Short Takes
Ordinarily I would put this on the video thread … but it really needs a full transcript (which is available on the YouTube version and needed very little correction.)
This is Melanie Moore. From Georgia. The mother of a third-grader and a fourth-grader.
Please watch…pic.twitter.com/a2opMGmntj
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) January 2, 2022
Transcript – uh good evening board members my name is melanie moore i am the parent of a third and fourth grader in district two and i’m grateful for the opportunity to speak with you this evening the issue i would like to address is the need for equitable education in all areas but first i’d like to share a little something personal i struggle with depression i have for many years i’ve gone to counselors throughout the years and one of the first things they ask me is tell me about your family of origin tell me about your past what happened to you in your past that is causing the current trauma and pain that you’re feeling in the same way our country cannot begin to heal until we deal with the pain trauma and hurt from our past we must teach our children the truth about the past and then show them how to be the change we wish to see in the world we can help them connect the dots from the awful events of the past to the current issues that face our country so that real change can happen as members of the white community we have got to stop pushing the agenda that diversity and truth and education is all about indoctrination shaming or placing guilt at the feet of white people no one is asking you to get up and place your head on the chopping block for the wrongs of the past people are simply asking for their stories to be heard and taught as ours have been for generations i would not allow my children to wallow in anger pain and self-pity i would do all i could to help them to be the very best versions of themselves even if it hurts to point out some painful truths about their behavior in the same way we have got to be honest with ourselves and admit that systemic racism is real that this country was created and prospered under the ideals of white supremacy and that we are responsible for righting the wrongs of our forefathers we did not create this mess but we are the ones that have to clean it up starting with honest equitable education practices now that will teach our children the hard truths about our past so that they can create a better future i understand that change is hard but it’s got to come racism is alive and well in this country it’s seen in the groups of white men with torches chanting you will not replace us to the fact that in 2021 we still don’t have a federal anti-lynching hate crime law we need to know better and then we need to do better happy pride happy early
You can click through to the tweet, or to the YouTube video, but it’s really all here Feel free to share wherever you think it will do come good.
Mother Jones – Chuck Schumer Just Announced a Major Potential Vote on the Future of the Filibuster
Quote – Schumer made his announcement three days before the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot. In his letter, Schumer drew comparisons between the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and Republican officials who have seized on Trump’s election lies to enact anti-democratic legislation across the country.
Click through for details. He knows what’s at stake. Wish him all strength and best luck in getting it through.
Crooks and Liars – Trump Abruptly Cancels January 6 Press Conference
Quote – Among other things, several advisors – formal and informal – told him the press conference was a mistake and/but it was becoming clear he wasn’t likely to get the live TV coverage he was hoping for. — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 4, 2022
Click through. Looks like Amato won.
Food For Thought:
Oh, and one last thing –
**Attorney General Merrick Garland will update Americans on the Jan. 6 investigation on WEDNESDAY** |