Heather Cox Richardson today: Today, Reuters broke the news that the Justice Department is considering charging those engaged in the Capitol riot under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). RICO cases are complicated and take a long time to put together, but the law was designed to enable prosecutors to reach those, like criminal ringleaders, who keep their own hands clean but tell others to commit crimes.
Biden Freezes Troop Redeployment In Germany February 4, 2021 By Taegan Goddard “During his first major foreign policy speech, President Biden on Thursday will announce an end to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen and a freeze on troop redeployments from Germany,” the Washington Post reports.
Romney Unveils Childcare Plan February 4, 2021 By Taegan Goddard “Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Thursday will propose providing at least $3,000 per child to millions of American families, lending bipartisan support to President Biden’s push to dramatically expand child benefits,” the Washington Post reports. “Romney’s proposal would provide $4,200 per year for every child up to the age of 6, as well as $3,000 per year for every child age 6 to 17.”
Trump Asked to Testify at Impeachment Trial [Click] House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has sent a letter to former President Donald Trump requesting he testify under oath “either before or during the Senate impeachment trial about his conduct on January 6,” CNN reports.
Well...that's a FIRST!!! I started to write the above comment several hours ago. But, being interrupted, I simply copied the message I'd written thus far, and stepped away from my computer. So I came back to pop it back in and (pause for effect) the message was. still. there. waiting to be published...!!!!!!!! 😯👍
$2,700,000,000 ought to be enough money to concentrate a person's mind--if said person has a mind. I presume (and certainly hope) that they are sued jointly and severally.
Gosh, Alan. This article blew my mind. My heart aches that you have so many people in ICU. 💔
What also blew my mind was discovering that Fresno County has about 300,000 more residents than all of Vermont. What's more, the city of Fresno has nearly as many citizens as all of Vermont. And! Fresno is 116 sq miles, whereas Vermont has nearly 4 million sq miles.
The article says Fresno County has vaccinated 7,500 per 100,000 people.
I checked and, as of two days ago, Vermont has vaccinated 8,800 per 100,000 people with first does and 5,600 per 100,000 people with second dose. We've been getting about 8,000 to 9,000 doses per week, but President Biden just upped everyone by 22% for three weeks, so we'll have closer to 11,000 doses now.
I keep thinking of how, unlike Trump (and many other newly elected presidents) Biden knows where the levers of power are, and how to use them. Then I envision him opening a concealed door in the Oval Office (maybe in the wall, maybe under the carpet) full of great big levers--like the throttle on a steam locomotive. Maybe with labels, maybe not, but probably covered with cobwebs.
Susan-- I read the article, and it seems rather suspicious. I read the Wikipedia article about the author, and he seems to be known for publishing rather tenuously reasoned deductive essays. He has been called a conspiracy theorist who assembles associations that do not add up to proof. Yes, I would be pleased if the feds are after Roger Stone and have (or will have) the goods on him, but I am inclined to file this article under "not proven."
I got those vibes too and wondered if it was just wishful thinking on the author's part. Have to admit I would LOVE to see Roger Stone get what he's earned.
"Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a former constitutional law professor leading the Democrats' case, wrote a letter to Trump saying his response to the article of impeachment earlier this week had "denied many factual allegations," and therefore Democrats requested he testify as early as next Monday and no later than next Thursday.
"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021," Raskin wrote, referring to the Capitol riots last month."
"A pro-Trump rioter who begged a judge to let her go on a pre-planned vacation in Mexico faced a fresh setback this week when she got hit with five additional criminal charges."
Why am I wondering if they make a lady-sized Oregon Boot? BTW, I remember seeing a murder defendant walking into the courtroom wearing one. It was concealed by his pant leg, but from the way he was walking it couldn't have been anything else.
It replaced the ball and chain. And the guy I saw wearing one was accused (and convicted) of a horrible murder. (With mayhem.) A subject wearing an Oregon Boot is much easier to handle than one in chains.
"REPORTER: Sen. Graham said that if the Democrats call any witness [during impeachment]…the Republicans will…call in the FBI and "tell us about…what happened with the security footprint at the Capitol." What's your response to that?
I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the amount of backbone we've been seeing from President Biden and Speaker Pelosi...! AT LAST they're not just trying to make nice with the Republicans. We wondered "What would it take?!" and now we know. But, sheesh...I have to wonder how much of this mess could have been avoided had the Dems gotten their spines about 12 years ago. That said, I'm very grateful they're doing it now...!!!
Something I particularly like is that the career prosecutors in the DOJ seem to be doing what they should be doing, and want to to. Biden doesn't have to be directly involved, and doesn't seem to be. With such a narrow margin in the Senate, there is little margin for error, but so far they seem to be operating well within that range. I'd bet a nickel nut bar that the administration and Senate Majority Leader are closely monitoring which senators are available for votes, on both sides.
"The pro-Trump insurrection was more violent than first reported. The damage will be long-lasting Feb 03, 2021 2:33pm Eastern Standard Time by Hunter, Daily Kos Staff Comment large142 300
In the aftermath of a pro-Trump insurrection that killed one police officer and appears to have contributed to the suicide deaths of two others, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be sending two "mobile vet centers" to the U.S. Capitol to provide free trauma counseling and other services to U.S. Capitol Police, National Guard members, and congressional staff.
Some staffers and members of Congress had to flee for their lives during the Jan. 6 violence. It is now known that some members of the mob that invaded the Capitol intended to assassinate political leaders seen as enemies of Donald Trump. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of those members, forced to hide as the mob looted offices and searched for their targets. She had to avoid the "extraction point" specified for members of Congress due to a fear that the same Republican members who were live-tweeting the location of the House Speaker would reveal her location. Staffers in some offices barricaded themselves using office furniture; Trump-appointed federal officials delayed the arrival of backup until most danger had already passed.
We now know that the attack on the Capitol was much more violent than initially reported, with nearly 140 law enforcement officers injured, some severely. But the mental scars are going to be severe as well, especially for officers and staff who now believe they were betrayed by their leadership and by fellow officers.
While some officers fought to secure the building, others let the mob pass through unchallenged or, allegedly, even gave directions. While many officers were injured, it is now clear that those injuries came about because leaders either refused to plan for the predicted violence or were rebuffed when they tried.
Both officers and staffers are now reeling from one of the most consequential leadership failures in modern history, and from the possibility that their lives were put in danger, at some level, on purpose. Congress had better make sure that all those in and near the Capitol that day receive both immediate and long-term mental health care, and at government expense."
I hadn't heard about the second evident suicide. And I should say that if things were so violent as reported here, that would strongly motivate the Dems toward smash-mouth politics. In other words, it provoked a serious backlash. It could be taken as an illustration of Marx's application of Hegelian philosophy to politics--a failing, outdated economic-political system engenders an opposition which which pushes it out of power.
We could highlight the part where some of the people (and politicians) called for the murder of the Speaker, and now wonder why Nancy Pelosi isn't wearing kid gloves.
House Resolution 72 The House has JUST completed voting on whether to remove Rep. Greene from her committee assignments. 11 Republicans voted to remove her, along with ALL the Democrats!
Final vote: 230 to 199. 2 Dems and 1 Rep did not seem to vote. Greene is REMOVED!
We had some of those covers in the various labs where I worked; they're OK. And tea seems to be worse than coffee. Sloshing keyboards vigorously in clean water and air-drying has been known to restore them.
I was reading about the organizing drive at the Amazon warehouse in Alabama. The union they called in was one I am unfamiliar with; I should have suggested the ILWU--no pussycats them.
I use the keyboard skins and they do help. It at least buys you a few moments to respond before it's too late. My current model shows me all the hot keys shortcuts!
When my turn comes, I wanted the Pfizer vaccine (95% effective), or the Moderna (94% effective). But right about the time I'm likely to be allowed (mid-March) the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available...which is 66% effective. Sigh.
I think that I saw something about the J&J vaccine being more effective than that. Naturally it depends on the groups tested. I like the Pfizer one because of the way it introduces the mRNA.
Heather Cox Richardson today: Today, Reuters broke the news that the Justice Department is considering charging those engaged in the Capitol riot under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). RICO cases are complicated and take a long time to put together, but the law was designed to enable prosecutors to reach those, like criminal ringleaders, who keep their own hands clean but tell others to commit crimes.
ReplyDeleteThink "Murder Incorporated" and the Trump Organization.
DeleteWeather back East downright balmy compared to 1899 [Click] Everybody stay warm and safe, hear?
ReplyDeleteBiden Freezes Troop Redeployment In Germany
ReplyDeleteFebruary 4, 2021 By Taegan Goddard
“During his first major foreign policy speech, President Biden on Thursday will announce an end to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen and a freeze on troop redeployments from Germany,” the Washington Post reports.
Romney Unveils Childcare Plan
February 4, 2021 By Taegan Goddard
“Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Thursday will propose providing at least $3,000 per child to millions of American families, lending bipartisan support to President Biden’s push to dramatically expand child benefits,” the Washington Post reports. “Romney’s proposal would provide $4,200 per year for every child up to the age of 6, as well as $3,000 per year for every child age 6 to 17.”
Voting technology company Smartmatic files $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell over 'disinformation campaign' [Click]
N.B.: Smartmatic only provided its services to Los Angeles County in the 2020 general election; to say that the lies respondents peddled went beyond that would be a huge understatement.
Trump Asked to Testify at Impeachment Trial [Click] House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has sent a letter to former President Donald Trump requesting he testify under oath “either before or during the Senate impeachment trial about his conduct on January 6,” CNN reports.
Wow! Sen. Romney is doing something positively non-Republican.
DeleteI really hope they subpeona DT. Imagine him under oath. ROFLMEO!!!
Well...that's a FIRST!!!
DeleteI started to write the above comment several hours ago. But, being interrupted, I simply copied the message I'd written thus far, and stepped away from my computer. So I came back to pop it back in and (pause for effect) the message was. still. there. waiting to be published...!!!!!!!! 😯👍
OHIO; COVID cases 910,847 and 11,509 deaths.
ReplyDelete1.26%
DeleteI think I love Smartmatic!
ReplyDelete$2,700,000,000 ought to be enough money to concentrate a person's mind--if said person has a mind. I presume (and certainly hope) that they are sued jointly and severally.
DeleteFresno County in the news [Click] Oh, joy. . .
ReplyDeleteGosh, Alan. This article blew my mind. My heart aches that you have so many people in ICU. 💔
DeleteWhat also blew my mind was discovering that Fresno County has about 300,000 more residents than all of Vermont. What's more, the city of Fresno has nearly as many citizens as all of Vermont. And! Fresno is 116 sq miles, whereas Vermont has nearly 4 million sq miles.
The article says Fresno County has vaccinated 7,500 per 100,000 people.
DeleteI checked and, as of two days ago, Vermont has vaccinated 8,800 per 100,000 people with first does and 5,600 per 100,000 people with second dose. We've been getting about 8,000 to 9,000 doses per week, but President Biden just upped everyone by 22% for three weeks, so we'll have closer to 11,000 doses now.
*first dose
DeleteI keep thinking of how, unlike Trump (and many other newly elected presidents) Biden knows where the levers of power are, and how to use them. Then I envision him opening a concealed door in the Oval Office (maybe in the wall, maybe under the carpet) full of great big levers--like the throttle on a steam locomotive. Maybe with labels, maybe not, but probably covered with cobwebs.
ReplyDeleteFound at Liker: https://sethabramson.substack.com/p/federal-prosecutors-appear-to-be
ReplyDeleteThey're after Roger Stone.
DeleteSusan-- I read the article, and it seems rather suspicious. I read the Wikipedia article about the author, and he seems to be known for publishing rather tenuously reasoned deductive essays. He has been called a conspiracy theorist who assembles associations that do not add up to proof. Yes, I would be pleased if the feds are after Roger Stone and have (or will have) the goods on him, but I am inclined to file this article under "not proven."
DeleteI got those vibes too and wondered if it was just wishful thinking on the author's part. Have to admit I would LOVE to see Roger Stone get what he's earned.
Deletehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-he-wont-testify-at-impeachment-trial-denying-democrats-request-he-answer-questions/ar-BB1doyLo?ocid=st
ReplyDelete"Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a former constitutional law professor leading the Democrats' case, wrote a letter to Trump saying his response to the article of impeachment earlier this week had "denied many factual allegations," and therefore Democrats requested he testify as early as next Monday and no later than next Thursday.
"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021," Raskin wrote, referring to the Capitol riots last month."
Kudos for Rep. Raskin!
Deletehttps://www.rawstory.com/jenny-cudd-2650293078/
ReplyDelete"A pro-Trump rioter who begged a judge to let her go on a pre-planned vacation in Mexico faced a fresh setback this week when she got hit with five additional criminal charges."
Why am I wondering if they make a lady-sized Oregon Boot? BTW, I remember seeing a murder defendant walking into the courtroom wearing one. It was concealed by his pant leg, but from the way he was walking it couldn't have been anything else.
DeleteHorrible device!!
DeleteIt replaced the ball and chain. And the guy I saw wearing one was accused (and convicted) of a horrible murder. (With mayhem.) A subject wearing an Oregon Boot is much easier to handle than one in chains.
Deletehttps://occupydemocrats.com/2021/02/04/nancy-pelosi-savages-lindsey-grahams-impeachment-threats-as-waste-of-time
ReplyDelete"REPORTER: Sen. Graham said that if the Democrats call any witness [during impeachment]…the Republicans will…call in the FBI and "tell us about…what happened with the security footprint at the Capitol." What's your response to that?
PELOSI: Your question is a waste of time."
I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the amount of backbone we've been seeing from President Biden and Speaker Pelosi...! AT LAST they're not just trying to make nice with the Republicans. We wondered "What would it take?!" and now we know. But, sheesh...I have to wonder how much of this mess could have been avoided had the Dems gotten their spines about 12 years ago. That said, I'm very grateful they're doing it now...!!!
DeleteSomething I particularly like is that the career prosecutors in the DOJ seem to be doing what they should be doing, and want to to. Biden doesn't have to be directly involved, and doesn't seem to be. With such a narrow margin in the Senate, there is little margin for error, but so far they seem to be operating well within that range. I'd bet a nickel nut bar that the administration and Senate Majority Leader are closely monitoring which senators are available for votes, on both sides.
Delete"The pro-Trump insurrection was more violent than first reported. The damage will be long-lasting
ReplyDeleteFeb 03, 2021 2:33pm Eastern Standard Time by Hunter, Daily Kos Staff
Comment large142
300
In the aftermath of a pro-Trump insurrection that killed one police officer and appears to have contributed to the suicide deaths of two others, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be sending two "mobile vet centers" to the U.S. Capitol to provide free trauma counseling and other services to U.S. Capitol Police, National Guard members, and congressional staff.
Some staffers and members of Congress had to flee for their lives during the Jan. 6 violence. It is now known that some members of the mob that invaded the Capitol intended to assassinate political leaders seen as enemies of Donald Trump. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of those members, forced to hide as the mob looted offices and searched for their targets. She had to avoid the "extraction point" specified for members of Congress due to a fear that the same Republican members who were live-tweeting the location of the House Speaker would reveal her location. Staffers in some offices barricaded themselves using office furniture; Trump-appointed federal officials delayed the arrival of backup until most danger had already passed.
We now know that the attack on the Capitol was much more violent than initially reported, with nearly 140 law enforcement officers injured, some severely. But the mental scars are going to be severe as well, especially for officers and staff who now believe they were betrayed by their leadership and by fellow officers.
While some officers fought to secure the building, others let the mob pass through unchallenged or, allegedly, even gave directions. While many officers were injured, it is now clear that those injuries came about because leaders either refused to plan for the predicted violence or were rebuffed when they tried.
Both officers and staffers are now reeling from one of the most consequential leadership failures in modern history, and from the possibility that their lives were put in danger, at some level, on purpose. Congress had better make sure that all those in and near the Capitol that day receive both immediate and long-term mental health care, and at government expense."
I hadn't heard about the second evident suicide. And I should say that if things were so violent as reported here, that would strongly motivate the Dems toward smash-mouth politics. In other words, it provoked a serious backlash. It could be taken as an illustration of Marx's application of Hegelian philosophy to politics--a failing, outdated economic-political system engenders an opposition which which pushes it out of power.
DeleteWe could highlight the part where some of the people (and politicians) called for the murder of the Speaker, and now wonder why Nancy Pelosi isn't wearing kid gloves.
DeleteWell yes, there IS that. . .
DeleteHouse Resolution 72
ReplyDeleteThe House has JUST completed voting on whether to remove Rep. Greene from her committee assignments.
11 Republicans voted to remove her, along with ALL the Democrats!
Final vote: 230 to 199. 2 Dems and 1 Rep did not seem to vote.
Greene is REMOVED!
The 11 are:
DeleteKinzinger (IL), Fitzpatrick (PA), Malliotakis (NY), Katko (NY), Upton (MI), Gimenez (FL), Jacobs (NY), Kim (CA), Salazar (FL), Smith (NJ), Diaz-Balert (FL)
I love that.
DeleteNo matter their motivation, a little extra bacon for them to take home would be in order, methinks.
DeleteEarmarks Are Good [Click]
Thanks, listener, I was just googling that.
ReplyDelete❤️
DeleteVT cases: 12,503-12,329=174
ReplyDelete3369 active cases
181 deaths(+2)
Recovered 8953 (71.6%)
Hospital 60(+8) ICU:12(+4)
Tests 308,055 (+1202)
Positivity rate down to 1.8%
Death rate down to 1.4%
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party TESTING TESTING
ReplyDeleteJust poured coffee on my second keyboard in six months. Evidently, it's going to be a feature of my life from here on out. Ack!
ReplyDeletePulled the dell keyboard off of the Win 10. Am now ordering two new amazon basic keyboards.
puddle, they do make silicone keyboard skins that will protect the keyboard from spills. They only cost about $7 and will offer some protection.
DeleteI got mine from Amazon in 2018. I hate their treatment of their workers so try not to buy there unless I absolutely cannot get it anywhere else.
DeleteWe had some of those covers in the various labs where I worked; they're OK. And tea seems to be worse than coffee. Sloshing keyboards vigorously in clean water and air-drying has been known to restore them.
DeleteI was reading about the organizing drive at the Amazon warehouse in Alabama. The union they called in was one I am unfamiliar with; I should have suggested the ILWU--no pussycats them.
DeleteOh noes!!
DeleteI use the keyboard skins and they do help. It at least buys you a few moments to respond before it's too late. My current model shows me all the hot keys shortcuts!
You know, it's weird, I'd never, ever, done it before. And now twice in three months. Feeling vewy vewy old.
ReplyDeleteNah, you're just thinking deep thoughts.
DeleteWhen my turn comes, I wanted the Pfizer vaccine (95% effective), or the Moderna (94% effective). But right about the time I'm likely to be allowed (mid-March) the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available...which is 66% effective. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think that I saw something about the J&J vaccine being more effective than that. Naturally it depends on the groups tested. I like the Pfizer one because of the way it introduces the mRNA.
Delete